Obituaries

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

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...

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...

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 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 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 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 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...

Apr 9, 2022

Debbie K. Bernhard, 58, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Debbie was born September 10, 1963, in Merrill, daughter of the late John and Ellen (Wegner) Neuwirth. She married Jay Bernhard on May 2, 1998. He survives. Debbie graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a degree in Psychology. She was employed for several...

Apr 9, 2022

Bette Jane Baumann, age 94, of Merrill, went to her Heavenly home on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Rennes in Weston, WI, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  She was born on December 21, 1927, to the late Henry and Elsie (Neuman) Litke in Merrill.  She met Edwin Hahn and the two exchanged marriage...

Apr 8, 2022

Carol Jean (Krause) Ward, age 74, passed away on April 8, 2022. Carol was born in Merrill to Clarence and Grace (Sukow) Krause on August 2, 1947. She was received into God’s kingdom of grace through the waters of Holy Baptism at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill, on August 24, 1947, attended Trinity School, and was confirmed in 1961. She...

Apr 7, 2022

Daniel (Dan) Luther Klemp was born on July 29,1949, to the late William and Signe Klemp in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He later moved with his family to Merrill, Wisconsin where he attended St. John Lutheran School and graduated from Merrill High School with a gold tassel. Dan spent his last years at Mount View Care Center in Wausau, Wisconsin....

Apr 6, 2022

Sally E. Hostvedt, 85, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at the Hospice House in Wausau. Sally was born September 9, 1936, in Appleton, Wisconsin. After graduating from Port Edwards High School, Sally continued her education at Valparaiso University. She married Donald Hostvedt on September 6, 1958, in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. He survives. Together, Sally and Don...

Apr 6, 2022

Darlene J. Graap, 75, formerly of the town of Harding, Lincoln County, passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at Marshfield Medical Center – Weston. Darlene was born on September 8, 1946, in Wausau, daughter of the late Martin and Edna (Goetsch) Mootz. She graduated from Wausau West High School in 1964. Darlene married Donald Graap Sr. on February 19,...