Obituaries

Feb 17, 2024

“Minnie” Pearl Alma Eleanor Sabatke, age 85, passed on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. Pearl was born on February 4, 1939 and was the daughter to the late Arthur and Elfrieda (Lambrecht) Porath in Wausau, Wisconsin. Pearl married the love of her life, Leslie Sabatke on June 16, 1956, they enjoyed nearly 65 beautiful...

Feb 13, 2024

Sister Loretta Schreiber

May 2, 1928 – February 13, 2024

Sister Loretta Schreiber, a Sister of Mercy of the Holy Cross, age 95, died February 13, 2024, at Bell Tower Residence Assisted Living in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Irene Schreiber was born May 2, 1928, in Athens, Wisconsin, to Bernard and Hattie (Soucek) Schreiber. She...

Feb 13, 2024

Marilyn Kay Maschke, age 72, of Merrill, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, while under the care of Interim Hospice.  She was born on January 2, 1952, to the late Glen and Julia (Tscherter) Buffinton in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Marilyn graduated from Merrill High School in 1971, and began working as a Certified Nursing...

Feb 10, 2024

Carol Jean (Gille) Pester, 88, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Carol was born December 27, 1935, daughter of Peter John and Mabel (Lee) Gille. She graduated from Merrill Senior High School in 1953. After graduation, she worked for her parents in the cab business. In 1954, she went to work...

Feb 5, 2024

Robert D. ‘Bob’ Valliere, 72, of Gleason, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, February 5, 2024.

Bob was born January 27, 1952, in Chicago, son of Hiram and Florence (Schwartz) Valliere. When he was about two years old, Bob and his family moved to Lac du Flambeau. He grew up on the reservation and attended...

Feb 5, 2024

Barbara J. Bakke, 75, of Merrill, passed away Monday, February 5, 2024, at her home.

Barbara was born November 23, 1948, in Oconomowoc, WI, daughter of Franklin and Lois Schoenfeld. She worked in nursing care at skilled nursing facilities. Barb enjoyed being outside whether it was camping and swimming in the lake or working in her flower...

Feb 4, 2024

James "Jim" Henry Von Loh, age 71, of the town of Pine River, passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at his home.  He was born on October 29, 1952 to the late Henry F. and Lula M. (Goff) Von Loh.

No services will be held.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences...

Feb 3, 2024

Roberta L. Stuemke, 71, of Oshkosh, formerly of Merrill, passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Waterford at Colby, Colby, WI.

Roberta was born May 11, 1952, in Merrill, daughter of George and Florence (Thanholdt) Stuemke. She attended Merrill Senior High School, graduating in 1970. She then attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She graduated in...

Jan 30, 2024

Fred Will, 95, of Merrill, embraced his Savior on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, leaving this earthly home.

Fred was born on April 29, 1928 in Irma, WI, the son of Godfrey and Anna (Schenzel) Will.  He moved to Merrill at the age of 18 to work on the Pope Dairy Farm.  As grace would have it, he fell in love with...

Jan 28, 2024

Leah D. Krause, 47, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024, at University Hospital in Madison.

Leah was born September 15, 1976, in Wausau, daughter of the late Richard ‘Dick’ and Diane (Abraham) Danielewicz. She is survived by her husband Jason Krause. They were married on September 29th 2012. Leah graduated from D.C. Everest High School...

Jan 26, 2024

Dennis A. Schmidt, 78, of Merrill, passed away Friday, January 26, 2024, at Mount View Care Center surrounded by his family.

Dennis was born January 22, 1946, in Merrill, son of the late Arthur and Phyllis (Kleinschmidt) Schmidt. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Army in 1965. After serving during...

Jan 24, 2024

John E. H. Harder, age 88 of Merrill passed away January 24, 2024, at Mt View Nursing Home. John was born December 7, 1935, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to the late Walter and Alida (Plante) Harder.

John served 20 years in the United States Air Force as a Mechanic from August of 1955 to July of...

Jan 24, 2024

Earl Harvey Dallman, age 92, of Merrill, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, while under the care of Interim Hospice.  He was born on October 6, 1931 to the late Erwin and Martha (Grassberger) Dallman in Merrill.  Earl attended Merrill High School and graduated with the class of 1949.  He met...

Jan 23, 2024

Phyllis A. Frederick, 92, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Phyllis was born April 8, 1931, in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Ella Mosser. Phyllis was raised by her mother and her stepfather, John Hopp. Phyllis married Elmer Frederick on June 19, 1948. He preceded her in death on...

Jan 22, 2024

Norma J. (Alft) Hanson, 88, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill.

Norma was born in Merrill on February 15, 1935, the daughter of the late George and Renate (Siesennop) Alft. A graduate of Merrill High School, she married Carleton ‘Cart’ Hanson on September 12, 1953. He preceded her in death on...

Jan 22, 2024

Alfred “Jim” James Fox, 78, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away Monday, January 22, 2024, at Pine

Crest Nursing Home with his loving wife and family by his side after a long and courageous

battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. He was born June 3, 1945, to Thomas “Ned” and Martha

(Wangen) Fox. On July 19,...

Jan 21, 2024

Lonnie Lee Michael Tanck, age 71, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, WI, while surrounded by his loving family.  Lonnie was born on March 3, 1952 to the late Alvin and Joyce (Heinz) Tanck in Wausau, WI.  He attended and graduated from Wausau High School.  Lonnie met the love of his...

Jan 19, 2024

John R. Burrow Jr., age 66, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 19, 2024, at his home.  He was born on November 6, 1957 to the late John and Gladys (Bouchard) Burrow Sr. in Orlando, FL. John attended and graduated from the Rancho High School in Las Vegas.  He went on to further his education by going to...

Jan 18, 2024

William “Bill” Martin Heckmann, age 84, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at Rib Lake Health Service & under the care of Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.  He was born in Merrill, WI, Lincoln County on March 26, 1939.  He was the son of the late Martin and Gladys (Richmond) Heckmann.

He graduated from Merrill Senior High School and...

Jan 17, 2024

Rexford “Rex” G. Buehler, age 84, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Bell Tower Residence Assisted Living.  Rex was born on May 20, 1939 to the late George and Dorothy (Szwingley) Buehler in Medford, WI.  He attended and graduated from Medford High School.  Rex went on to serve his country in the United States Army...