Vera A. Leitzke

Vera Ann Leitzke, 101, was born to eternal life on Thursday, March 20, 2025. She was born in Wausau on March 7, 1924 to Max and Emily (Fraedrich) Pagel. Vera attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Wausau Senior High School in 1941. She attended Miss Brown's School of Business in Milwaukee and worked as a secretary/bookkeeper and proofreader for Marathon Press and Connor Lumber and Land Company in Wausau. On January 1, 1951, she married Donald Leitzke. The couple lived in Chicago for a year and Vera worked at the YWCA. When they returned to Wausau, Vera became a full-time homemaker and mom while her children were young. Vera later worked for the Marathon County Clerk's office and the Marathon County Health Department. A skilled stenographer, Vera often used her shorthand skills at home. No one can forget the time she labeled all her Christmas gifts in shorthand and made a few errors in transcription. It was a hoot!

Vera began playing the piano at age 10 and entertained her children with “pajama parties” around the piano singing all the greatest hits of Rogers and Hammerstein. Although shy about playing in public, she played the piano for church services at area nursing homes in her retirement years. Vera was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and member of the altar guild. Other volunteer activities included “adopting” students at Trinity school for grandparent's day, participating in the DC Everest oral history project describing life in the Depression Era, and assisting seniors with their Homestead tax credit forms.

An avid reader, she loved perusing newspapers from around the country and was always clipping articles to share stories of interest with her family. Her varied interests included music of all types – especially classical and opera, day trips around the state, family camp-outs, and attending local dog shows. She loved animals and cared for her family's many exotic pets, including dogs, a raccoon, guinea pigs, a white rat, and assorted fish and turtles. For her 100th birthday, the Merrill area community came together to bring their dogs to meet and greet Vera, which brought many smiles. Vera loved her Lord and was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed attending all her grandchildren's events. Vera always saw the best in people, refused to complain or criticize, and had a ready smile for everyone she met. For the last 11 years, Vera has made her home at Bell Tower Residence in Merrill.

Vera is survived by her daughters Maxine (Jay) Tlusty and Dona Leitzke of Merrill; grandchildren Melanie (Mark) Lunda, White Bear Lake, MN, Michelle Tlusty, Oak Creek, WI, and Amanda (Matthew) Ladewig of Merrill; great-grandsons Reid Lunda and Afton Ladewig. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don Leitzke, and her son, Mark Leitzke.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29 at 11:00 AM at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 300 Logan St., Merrill with Rev. Phyllis Smoot, Bell Tower Chaplain, officiating. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:30 AM until the time of services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lincoln County Humane Society, 301 N Memorial Dr, Merrill, Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Avenue, Wausau, or the charity of your choice.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Bell Tower Residence for their kind and compassionate care for Vera these past 11 years.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.