Obituaries

Garilyn R. 'Gari' Eder

Garilyn R. 'Gari' Eder

Jan 17, 2025

Garilyn R. ‘Gari’ Eder, 68, of Merrill, passed away Friday January 17, 2025, at Marshfield Medical Center – Marshfield.

Gari was born August 28, 1956, in Houston, TX, daughter of Rev. James and Grace (Olson) Pulham. After graduation, she attended school at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical Institute and received an associate degree in administration assistance. She married Daniel Eder on September 13,...

Donald "Fritz" L. Taylor Jr.

Donald "Fritz" L. Taylor Jr.

Jan 16, 2025

Donald “Fritz” Taylor Jr., age 62, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Rochester, MN, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born on July 2, 1962 to Donald L. and Carol “Joy” (Gleisner) Taylor Sr. in Woodstock, IL. Fritz fell in love with Rebecca Owens, and the two were united in marriage on October 21,...

Russell J. Ryan

Russell J. Ryan

Jan 15, 2025

Russell J. Ryan, of Gleason, passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2025, age 67, at a local hospital with family by his side.

Russell was born on October 6, 1957, to Patrick J. and Helen M. (Abitz) Ryan. He was the oldest of six siblings. The family moved to Gleason in 1970. Russ graduated from Merrill High School in 1976. He...

Elaine M. Marnholtz

Elaine M. Marnholtz

Jan 15, 2025

Elaine Marie Marnholtz (73) passed away with family by her side on January 15th, 2025 after a short battle with cancer. Born July 31st, 1951, Elaine grew up in Wonewoc, WI. She graduated from Wonewoc High School in 1969. Elaine was employed at Mitchell Metal Products for 26 years, and retired in 2013. Elaine married her high school sweetheart, Steven...

Iona M. Fleischman

Iona M. Fleischman

Jan 13, 2025

Iona M. (Forster) Fleischman, 94, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.

Born on December 16, 1930, to Albert and Minnie (Schulte) Forster in the town of Schley, Iona grew up in Schley and the town of Harding before graduating from Merrill High School. 

On February 18, 1950, Iona married the love of her life,...

Randall 'Randy' Braatz

Randall 'Randy' Braatz

Jan 12, 2025

Randall J. ‘Randy’ Braatz, 70, of Marathon, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. 

Randy was born May 24, 1954, in Wausau, son of Emil Braatz Jr. and Verona (nee Hanke) Braatz. Randy graduated from Marathon High School in 1972. He married Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Pagel on September 2, 1988, at Faith Lutheran Church, Village of Maine, Marathon...

Peggy J. Monti

Peggy J. Monti

Jan 12, 2025

Peggy Jo-Ann Monti, age 82, of Gleason, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Sunday, January 12, 2025. She was born on October 29, 1942, to the late Theodore “Ted” Anthony and Irene (Myska) Leder in Gleason. Peggy graduated from high school and was united in marriage to Jerome Monti on June 23, 1963, in Bloomville at St. John The...

Betty Jane Krause

Betty Jane Krause

Jan 12, 2025

Betty Jane Krause, age 94, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Bell Tower residence, while surrounded by her loving family 24 hours a day while on her 10-day journey home to God. She was under the care of Interim Hospice. She was born on March 31, 1930, to the late Edmund and Lillian (Berndt) Kleinschmidt in...

James J. Downing

James J. Downing

Jan 12, 2025

Beloved husband, James “Jim” Joseph Downing was born on October 24, 1933, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. He was baptized into the Christian faith, which guided his life. Jim married the love of his life, Mary Jane Mootz, on August 3, 1957, beginning a 67-year partnership filled with love and devotion that all started with a blind date. Jim grew up among the...

Dale C. Woller

Dale C. Woller

Jan 11, 2025

Dale C. Woller, 63, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025, at his home. 

Dale was born October 2, 1961, in Merrill, son of Robert Woller Sr. and Mae (Iwen) Woller. He married Bonnie Robinette on May 14, 2004. She survives. Dale had worked at Hurd Millwork for many years. At that time, he also worked for City Transfer moving...

Darwin D. Berndt

Darwin D. Berndt

Jan 11, 2025

Darwin D. Berndt, age 77, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau, with his family by his side and while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. He was born on August 25, 1947 to the late Frank and Helen (Nienow) Berndt in Merrill. Darwin attended and graduated from Merrill...

Helen M. Hanns

Helen M. Hanns

Jan 10, 2025

Helen M Hanns, of Merrill, WI, passed away peacefully under hospice care at Pine Crest Nursing home in Merrill on Friday, January 10, 2025. Helen was born on February 15, 1948, in Phillips, WI, the daughter of Vince and Helen Foytik.

 She graduated from Phillips High School in 1966. She married Dennis Stanke on September 17, 1966, and they had two...

Greg K. Cegielski

Greg K. Cegielski

Jan 9, 2025

Gregory K. Celgielski “Tiny”, age 51, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, January 9, 2025. He was born on March 23, 1973 to the late Ted and Gail (Johnson) Cegielski in Wausau, WI.

He attended and graduated from Merrill High School.

Greg worked at Geiss Meats, was a supervisor at Weather Shield, and was a very skilled auto...

Gail R. Wogsland

Gail R. Wogsland

Jan 9, 2025

Gail Ruth (Grill) Wogsland, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at the Aspirus Merrill Hospital. She was born to Walter and Gertrude (Olson) Grill on November 5, 1936, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. 

She graduated from Rhinelander High School. On October 15, 1955, Gail married Douglas Wogsland. He preceded her in death on March 11, 2011. She worked in...

Verna A. Schaefer

Verna A. Schaefer

Jan 7, 2025

Verna A. Schaefer, 95, passed away peacefully to be with her Savior on Tuesday, January 7. Verna was born May 15, 1929, in Wonewoc, WI, the daughter of Fred W. and Adela (Hahn) Schaefer. Verna was baptized on May 24, 1929, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wonewoc, WI, and confirmed on April 18, 1943, at Zion Lutheran Church, Wilmington,...

Gerald E. 'Jerry' Plamann

Gerald E. 'Jerry' Plamann

Jan 6, 2025

Gerald E. Plamann, 82, of Merrill, passed away January 6, 2025, at his home. 

Jerry was born April 10, 1942, son of Erwin and Dorothy (Borchert) Plamann. Jerry enlisted in the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era. He graduated as an “Honorman” at Great Lakes Naval Academy and served on the USS Kaskaskia. While on that tour, he was able...

Mary Kay Van Der Geest

Mary Kay Van Der Geest

Jan 1, 2025

Mary Kay Van Der Geest, 76 of Merrill, WI passed away peacefully at Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau late in the afternoon on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, after a courageous battle from internasal metastatic melanoma. 

Mary Kay Jacobson was born on March 14, 1948, in Merrill, WI to the late Norman (Jake) and Phyllis Jacobson of Irma. She graduated from Merrill...

Robert K. Opsahl

Robert K. Opsahl

Dec 30, 2024

Robert Opsahl, age 92, passed away peacefully on December 30th with his family by his side. In heaven, he is probably encouraging people to shape up whether that be in wrestling or choice of appropriate attire-i.e. belt and tie.

He was born July 8, 1932, and graduated from Cameron High School in Wisconsin, where he played football and was on the...

Penny J. Wenzlick

Penny J. Wenzlick

Dec 30, 2024

Penny Jo Wenzlick, age 72, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024, at the Rennes Health & Rehab in Weston, WI and while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. She was born on August 16, 1952, to the late James Richard and Dorothy (Derwae) Gunderson in Kenosha, WI. Penny was placed in a foster...

Greg L. Kautza

Greg L. Kautza

Dec 28, 2024

Greg Kautza, former Tech Ed. Teacher and Business Manager at MAPS, took his "Journey to Heaven" in the early hours on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

 Greg was married to Lin English Kautza, was the proud parent of Mollie Kautza Elsmark (Erik) and Andy Kautza (Jessica), and brother to Mike (Susan), Nick (deceased) Rita Kautza Benz (Ron), Andy (Julie), Mary Kautza McKown...

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