Randall 'Randy' Braatz

Randall J. ‘Randy’ Braatz, 70, of Marathon, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. 

Randy was born May 24, 1954, in Wausau, son of Emil Braatz Jr. and Verona (nee Hanke) Braatz. Randy graduated from Marathon High School in 1972. He married Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Pagel on September 2, 1988, at Faith Lutheran Church, Village of Maine, Marathon County. Randy worked at the Ford garage and also dairy farmed. He sold the dairy herd in 2001 and went to work in lawn equipment sales in Edgar. He worked for a few years at the Co-Op in Marathon and then worked at Marathon Cheese Corp. He retired on his 70th birthday after working there for seven years. 

Randy was a longtime member of Faith Lutheran Church: he served as a Church Elder and was very involved in bible studies. He was also a member of the Pommerscher Verein of Central Wisconsin where he was on the Board and was a member of the dance group. Randy enjoyed staying active. He took walks every morning and once it got cold outside, he would ride his stationary bike. Randy also enjoyed playing Sheephead. After retiring, Randy built a raised garden and was looking forward to gardening this year. In earlier years, he was involved with the Jaycees, played church league baseball and dartball, and bowled. He adored his two little grandkids and they loved their ‘Opa’.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy Braatz of Marathon; daughter, Ericka (Kyle Kretschmann) Braatz-Kretschmann of Evansville, WI; grandchildren, Felix and Lucy; siblings, Janelle ‘Janie’ (Thomas Bogren) Braatz of Rothschild, Carlene (David Daniels) Braatz of Rhinelander, Joel (Cassie McLain) Braatz of Merrill, Lowell (Maureen) Braatz of Wausau, and Laurel (Timothy Feist) Braatz of Sturgeon Bay; brother-in-law, Don (Kathy) Schult of Wausau; and nieces and nephews, Donald Schult Jr. ‘DJ’ (Sara) of Merrill, John (Carla) Schult of Wausau, Sam Braatz of Mosinee, Hannah Braatz of St. Paul, MN, and Kelsey Daniels of Savage, MN. Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Emil Jr and Verona Braatz; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Elaine Schult. 

The funeral service for Randy will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church, Village of Maine. Rev. Donald Love will officiate. Burial will take place in Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery – West, Town of Scott, Lincoln County. Visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Sunday, January 19, 2025, and after 9:00 A.M. Monday, January 20, 2025, all at the church. 

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation, Merrill, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com