Obituaries

Jun 23, 2021

Linda Lee (Davis) Sparby, aged 74, died Wednesday June 23, 2021 at The Bay at Colonial Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center in Wausau, WI surrounded by family.  Linda was born in Merrill, WI on March 30, 1947 to Greenwood O. Davis and Ila M. (Williquette) Davis. Her parents preceded her in death in 1987 and 1977. Linda lived in...

Jun 18, 2021

Mary A. Urban, age 86, passed away Friday, June 18, 2021, at Bell Tower Residence under the care of Bell Tower staff and Compassus Hospice. Mary was born October 17, 1934, in Highmore, South Dakota, daughter of the late Victor and Edith (Olson) Duchene. Mary moved to Merrill in 1967. She married Edwin B. Urban on December 22, 1975,...

Jun 18, 2021

Roman J. Peterson peacefully entered eternal life Friday, June 18 in Merrill. He was reunited with his wife of 68 years, Carol, who preceded him in death in March of 2018.

Roman, who early in life became known as Butch, was born in Park Falls, Wisconsin on January 20, 1930. Butch was one of 5 children raised...

Jun 15, 2021

Arlyn G. Schade, Sr., age 76 of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Arlyn was born June 11, 1945, in Wausau, son of the late Adelbert and Eleanore (Blaubach) Schade. He graduated from Marathon High School. On January 27, 1968, he married Barbara Erdman at Trinity Lutheran Church in...

Jun 14, 2021

Andrew ‘Andy’ John Lyon, age 37, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 14, 2021, in Green Bay, WI.  He was born on July 14, 1983, to Werner and Elizabeth (Lyon) Mathis in Merrill, WI.  His mother survives.

Andy worked at FyterTech as a lead operator for many years.  He loved his work and the people that he...

Jun 13, 2021

Rose Jane Polasek-Kleinschmidt, age 91, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Woodland Court Elder Services in Merrill, while surrounded by her loving daughters and under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  She was born on November 5, 1929, to the late August and Mary (Martz) Kottman in Merrill, WI.  Rose married Clarence...

Jun 12, 2021

Caroline D. Frick, age 82, of rural Merrill, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Caroline was born May 31, 1939 in Merrill, daughter of the late Gerhardt and Bertha (Drager) Haig. She married Bernhardt V.O. Frick on July 1, 1961 at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. He survives. Caroline was a 1957 graduate of Merrill Senior High School....

Jun 11, 2021

Jeannette L. Sommi, 91, of Merrill passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Jeannette was born October 16, 1929 in the Town of Schley, Lincoln County, daughter of the late Reinhardt and Ella (Pruesser) Krueger. She married Jacob Sommi on June 30, 1951. He preceded her in death on July 14, 2016. Jeannette was the...

Jun 11, 2021

Allen (Al) Raymond Handlin, age 80, passed away at his home in Merrill, Wisconsin on June 11, 2021, under the care of Compassus Hospice. He was born on November 16, 1940, to William and Mary (Lofthouse) Handlin in Chicago, Illinois.

On October 31, 1959, Al married Joyce Helms in Chicago, Illinois. They would have celebrated their 62nd...

Jun 10, 2021

Aaron L. Hinz, 66, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Marshfield Medical Center, Weston. Aaron was born January 24, 1955 in Merrill, son of Eldru (Hanson) Hinz and the late Clarence ‘Speedy’ Hinz. Aaron had been a maintenance mechanic at the former Stokley Canning Company in Merrill, and then at Gordon Aluminum in Schofield. He...

Jun 9, 2021

Shirley A. Anderson, 91, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill under the loving care of her family, the nursing home staff, and Aspirus Hospice Services. Shirley was born March 31, 1930 in Merrill, daughter of the late Arnold and Margaret (Savaske) Zimmerman. She married Donald W. Anderson on July 12,...

Jun 7, 2021

Stephen “Steve” J. Schmidt, age 69, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital following a strong battle against leukemia. He was born March 2, 1952 in Merrill, Wisconsin, to the late Art and Phyllis (Kleinschmidt) Schmidt.

Steve grew up in the Merrill and Wausau areas where he and his siblings probably raised more...

Jun 6, 2021

Our beloved mother, Lois Ann (Lambrecht) Wendorf, walked into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, June 6, 2021.  Lois was born 94 years ago on March 12, 1927. Lois graduated from Merrill High School and shortly thereafter married the love of her life, Darroll Wendorf, on June 15, 1946.  Together, they committed their lives to Jesus in 1950....

Jun 2, 2021

David J. Finanger passed from this earthly life at Pine Crest Nursing Home on June 2, 2021.  He was born September 22, 1927, in LaCrosse, WI to Earl and Beatrice (Peterson) Finanger.  At age 12 his family moved to Wauwatosa, WI where Dave graduated from Wauwatosa High School in 1945.   He completed one semester at St. Olaf College in...

May 27, 2021

Roseann J. Schotz, age 76, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 27th at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by family. Roseann was born January 3, 1945 in Merrill, daughter of the late Theodore and Mabel (Allen) Middlestead. She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Schotz, on July 6, 1963, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 26,...

May 26, 2021

Jeanette Marie Jensen, 86, of Irma, Wisconsin, passed away on May 26, 2021 at Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill, Wisconsin.

On July 8, 1934, Jeanette was born to Elmer R. Nicklaus and Jesse M. Cottrell Nicklaus at the Kelly House, in Merrill, Wisconsin, delivered by her grandmother, Helena Nicklaus.

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May 25, 2021

Lonnie M. Woller, 73, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 23, 2021. Lonnie was born on January 17, 1948 to the late Elmer and Victoria (nee Hohn) Woller. He married Lorraine Graap and had a daughter, Heather, whom Lonnie cherished. Prior to his retirement, Lonnie worked for Merrill Sand & Gravel, Operating Engineers Local 139. Lonnie loved to be...

May 23, 2021

Richard G. ‘Dick’ Bjorklund, age 95, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Dick was born September 16, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, son of the late Casper and Alice (Nelson) Bjorklund. He married Evelyn Sorenson on June 15, 1949 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She survives. Dick served in the United States Army Air Corp...

May 22, 2021

Leslie “Les” Sabatke, 84, of Merrill, WI, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Les was born on February 4, 1937, to Leslie Sabatke Sr. and Ella Jaeger in the Town of Scott, WI. On June 16, 1956, Les married his love and joy, Pearl Porath, in the Town of Maine,...

May 18, 2021

Sharon Lea ‘Sherry’ Harris (nee Stephan), 71, of Merrill was taken from this earth on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, with her family by her side. Sharon was born May 11, 1950, in Waukesha, daughter of the late Walter Stephan and Dorothy (Green) Stephan-Wirts. She was in the first graduating class at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, Wisconsin. Sharon...