Obituaries

May 10, 2022

Loretta Anne Zimmerman of Madison, Wisconsin, aged 87, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.  Loretta was born in Merrill to Ray and Helene (Wyss) Galipeau in November of 1934.  Loretta  is survived by her husband Walter Dan, and four children, Mary, Richard (Suzanne), Robert (Julie),  and Randall, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, and her sister Mary Lou (Albert)...

May 9, 2022

Joy F. Heideman, 95, of Merrill, passed away Monday, May 9, 2022, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Joy was born April 20, 1927, in the Town of Skanawan, Lincoln County, Wisconsin, daughter of the late John and Irene (Bowen) Goodfellow. She married Norman ‘Jiggs’ Heideman in Tomahawk and he preceded her in death on September 16, 2007. Joy...

May 7, 2022

Danny M. Thomas, 52, of Merrill, passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital. Danny was born August 27, 1969, in San Jose, California, son of the late Danny G. and Margaret (Wenkman) Thomas. He served four years in the United States Navy, spending time on the USS Gurnard and Naval Air Station Lemoore. Danny worked...

May 5, 2022

Elaine K. Sukow, 97, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2022, due to natural causes. Elaine was born on June 15, 1924, to the late Katherine (Bloechl) and Harry Doering, she grew up and lived in the Merrill area all her life. Elaine was preceded in death by her beloved children, Russell Sukow and Michelle Sukow; loving...

May 4, 2022

Barbara “Barb” Lynn Schuster, 76, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.  She was born August 15, 1945, in Milwaukee, to the late Roger Ringhand and Margaret Taylor.  She married Duane Schwartz, he survives, and together they had four children:  Jamie Schwartz, Laureen Podeweltz (Jim Streeter), Brian Schwartz, and Amy Jo...

May 2, 2022

Donald L. Wallace, 85, of Merrill, passed away Monday, May 2, 2022, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital. Donald was born April 19, 1937, in Rib Lake, Wisconsin, son of the late Lester and Vera (Krueger) Wallace. Don enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard and served from 1954 until 1960. Don had worked at Treat All Metals in Milwaukee and Donahue...

May 2, 2022

John Bernard Romatoski, age 93, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Woodland Courts in Merrill, Wisconsin. He was born on April 27, 1929, to the late Walter and Kathryn (Plaza) Romatoski in the town of Mosinee in Marathon County. He met and married the love of his life, Mary Ann Kleman, and the...

May 1, 2022

Kevin John Neitzel, age 66, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 1, 2022, on the family farm in the town of Pine River.  He was born on January 11, 1956, to the late William and Jean (Gryskiewicz) Neitzel in Milwaukee, WI. Kevin attended and graduated from Wauwatosa East High School.

During his adult life, Kevin worked in...

May 1, 2022

Scott A. Heidemann, age 65, of Merrill, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, May 1, 2022 after being unexpectedly injured doing what he loved – the evening farm chores.

Scott was born March 4, 1957, to Victor and Marjorie (Turbin) Heidemann. He was the fourth generation to grow...

Apr 30, 2022

John Patrick Blakeslee “Pat” was not a man who’s life could be recounted within the confines of this text. With that in mind, the characteristics and accomplishments most cherished by his surviving family are as follows: Pat lived out his life with unwavering faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a radical man with radical faith. Pat was...

Apr 30, 2022

William L. Kidder passed away on April 30, 2022, at Mount View Nursing Home in Wausau, Wisconsin.

William was born September 25, 1927, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late William and Virginia (Loomis) Kidder. He entered the U.S. Army at the end of World War II after preparing for his service for four years of ROTC training...

Apr 29, 2022

Susan K. Kufahl, 64, of Wausau passed away on Friday, April 29, 2022, at her home. Susan was born on May 31, 1957, in Merrill, daughter of the late Melvin and Fern (Whitney) Kufahl Sr. Susan graduated from Merrill High School in 1975. After graduation she attended UW Stevens Point where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree, she then...

Apr 29, 2022

Kathryn Christina (Schrauth) Sladek, age 89, passed away at Pine Crest Nursing Home on April 29, 2022. Kathryn was born on October 10, 1932, to Joseph and Helen (Fleischmann) Schrauth. She was the eleventh of the thirteen children of Joseph and Helen in the township of Little Black, Wisconsin. Kathryn was raised on a farm, where she had to...

Apr 26, 2022

Nancy English, age 92, of Merrill, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 26th at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. She lived a full life, believed in Jesus as her Lord and Savior and loved her family with all her heart. Nancy was born October 5, 1929, in Rosendale, WI, daughter of Ansel and Elsie (Cobb) Atwater....

Apr 25, 2022

Marie A. Leopold, age 98, of Merrill, died Monday, April 25, 2022, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Marie was born November 14, 1923, in Merrill, daughter of the late Albert and Pauline (Tobalski) Strasser. She married William ‘Bill’ Leopold on September 16, 1944, in Merrill. He preceded her in death on September 19, 2013. Marie had worked at...

Apr 25, 2022

Alice D. Bacher, 100, of Merrill, died Monday, April 25, 2022, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. Alice was born on May 17, 1921, in Hoffman, Illinois, daughter of the late William and Lydia (Rennegarbe) Fruend. She married Robert Bacher on March 29, 1938, in Merrill. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1977. Alice worked for...

Apr 25, 2022

Jason Michael Kleinschmidt, age 47 of Merrill, passed away on Monday April 25, 2022, after a courageous 5-year battle with cancer.  He was surrounded by his wife Tanya, his Children, Amber, Michael and Matthew and a house full of family.

Jason was born September 24, 1974, to Gene and Judy (Baguhn) in Merrill, WI.  When Jason was...

Apr 22, 2022

Marian M. Kottke was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.  She passed away on April 22, 2022, at the age of 82 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by a constant stream of loving family and friends. She was even blessed to enjoy her last Easter celebration surrounded by more than 70 family members.

Apr 16, 2022

Ruth A.E. Benson of Irma, Wisconsin, daughter of Ben and Dena (Krause) Hemmrich was born on January 24, 1926, in Colby, Wisconsin. She passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Merrill, Wisconsin.

She grew up in Price County and attended elementary school in Knox Mills, Wisconsin. She graduated from Prentice High School in 1943. During the...

Apr 12, 2022

Joyce A. (Hensen) St. Mary, age 87, passed away lovingly from the arms of her daughter, Jolene, into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau, WI.  Joyce suffered from many separate chronic conditions over the course of many years.  She is now free from pain.  Joyce was born...