Obituaries

Richard R. Kuehn

Richard R. Kuehn

Sep 6, 2025

Richard Robert Kuehn was born December 6, 1928 in the Township of Merrill to Richard and Pauline (Allgaier) Kuehn, his father passed away when Richard was three months old.

Richard attended Hillside School and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and Church. He began working at Weinbrenner Shoe Company at the age of 16.

Richard married Shirley Burgener June 5, 1954, in Immanuel...

Richard 'Dick' Bettin

Richard 'Dick' Bettin

Sep 4, 2025

Richard C. ‘Dick’ Bettin, 90, Merrill, passed away Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.

Dick was born June 22, 1935, in Rib Lake, WI, to the late Herbert and Hilda (Neumann) Bettin. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1955. In August 1955, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Fort Carson in Colorado...

Leonard J. 'Len' Polak

Leonard J. 'Len' Polak

Sep 3, 2025

Leonard J. ‘Len’ Polak, 82, a lifelong resident of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. 

Len was born May 23, 1943, in Merrill, son of Carl and Erna (Klein) Polak. Len grew up working on the family farm and in the family sawmill. A lifelong entrepreneur, he purchased...

Loyd Ernest William Kleinschmidt

Loyd Ernest William Kleinschmidt

Aug 29, 2025

Loyd Ernest William Kleinschmidt, age 98, entered into his eternal home on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Woodland Court Elder Service in Merrill, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services, spending his final hours with his loving wife Joan, and son. He was born on April 26, 1927, to the late Ernest J. and Angela L. (Moehrer)...

Dr. Dan William Rajek

Dr. Dan William Rajek

Aug 29, 2025

Dr. Dan William Rajek, age 72, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 29, 2025, in Wisconsin Rapids. He was born on February 7, 1953, to the late Dr. Edgar and Margaret (Moran) Rajek in Merrill. Dan attended and graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1971. Dan attended UW-Eau Claire and went on to graduate from...

David P. Belfiori

David P. Belfiori

Aug 29, 2025

David Paul Belfiori, age 85, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 29 , 2025. David was born on April 29, 1940, in Virginia MN, the son of Dominick & Sylvia Belfiori. He attended Buhl High School in Buhl, MN and graduated from UM-Duluth with a BS degree in Mathematics. He married his high school sweetheart Carol Mae Rossman,...

Teresa "Teri" M Hoefs

Teresa "Teri" M Hoefs

Aug 28, 2025

A full obituary is pending.  Please check back later.

Lee L. Buehler

Lee L. Buehler

Aug 24, 2025

Lee L. Buehler, age 78, a lifelong resident of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Woodland Court Elder Services in Merrill. She was born on September 27, 1946, to the late Gregory and Mae (Heldt) Boushley in Merrill. Lee attended and graduated from Merrill High School. Lee married the love of her life, Rexford Buehler, on March...

Anna L. Burss

Anna L. Burss

Aug 16, 2025

Anna L. Burss, age 81, went to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. She was born on November 20, 1943 to the late Grady and Ona (Kenner) Pigg in Coleman, OK. Anna attended and graduated from high school, before marrying Manley Burss in 1961 and the...

Lyle D. Woller

Lyle D. Woller

Aug 14, 2025

Lyle D. Woller, 56, of Schofield, passed away August 14, 2025, at Marshfield Medical Center – Weston after a brief illness.

Lyle was born September 24, 1968, in Merrill, son of Laverne and Donna (Beste) Woller. He graduated from Wausau West High School with the class of 1987 and graduated from N.T.C. with a degree in police science. Lyle was a...

Joy L. Haehlke

Joy L. Haehlke

Aug 12, 2025

Joy Lynette Haehlke, age 77, died on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at her home, while surrounded by her loving family, and under the care of Interim Hospice Care of Wausau. She was born on November 1, 1947, to the late Lavern and Arlene (Oelke) Teske in Wausau, WI. Joy married Roderick “Rod” Haehlke on May 19, 1984 in the town...

Tom M. Young

Tom M. Young

Aug 11, 2025

Tom M. Young, 66, passed away Monday, August 11, 2025, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after a brief illness.

Tom was born July 24, 1959, in Merrill, son of James Young Sr. and Mary Ann (Weisman) Young. Tom married Bonnie Jean Hehling on May 19, 1990, in Merrill. She passed away on February 24, 2007. He worked as a welder for Merrill...

Wade A. Helvey

Wade A. Helvey

Aug 11, 2025

Wade A. Helvey, 61, of Merrill, passed away Monday, August 11, 2025, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after a brief illness.

Wade was born June 25, 1964, in Park Falls, WI, to Harold Helvey and Wanda (Dietrich) Helvey. Wade graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1983 and worked for 39 years at Lincoln Windows in Merrill. Wade enjoyed watching...

Marjorie A. English

Marjorie A. English

Aug 10, 2025

Marjorie A. English was born January 22, 1928, to Harold and Alice (Friday) Lindquist in Merrill, Wisconsin. She died August 10, 2025, at her home. She was a 1946 graduate of Merrill High School. She worked as a dental assistant, but her favorite job was being a mom and grandma.

On June 11, 1949, she married John English. She and John...

Carl R. Hamsing

Carl R. Hamsing

Aug 2, 2025

Carl R. Hamsing, age 65, of Weston, passed away on August 2, 2025, at his home.  He was born on January 16, 1960.

A burial for Carl was held at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery.

Brian L. Hackbarth

Brian L. Hackbarth

Aug 2, 2025

Brian Lee Hackbarth, age 62, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. He was born on July 16, 1963, to the late David and Janet (Kickbusch) Hackbarth in Wausau. Brian had attended Wausau East High School. On October 15, 1988, he married his soul mate and best friend: Denise Podgorski, in...

Dorothy E. Kleinschmidt

Dorothy E. Kleinschmidt

Jul 31, 2025

Dorothy “GiGi” E. Kleinschmidt, age 68, of Merrill, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully surround by her family on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Merrill, Wisconsin, after a courageous battle with cancer. With profound sorrow, we mourn the passing of a woman who embodied strength, grace, and unconditional love.

Born to Richard and Phyllis (Lindahl) Toppel on April 26, 1957, in Elgin, Illinois....

Lois M. Wold

Lois M. Wold

Jul 29, 2025

Lois M. Wold, 95, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.

Lois was born September 28, 1929, in the Town of Corning, Lincoln County, daughter of Albert E. and Alice (Weber) Krause. She married Donald J. Wold on November 22, 1947, at St. Stephens United...

Roger W. Young

Roger W. Young

Jul 24, 2025

A celebration of Roger's life will take place at a later date. 

Jamie Kraegenbrink

Jamie Kraegenbrink

Jul 21, 2025

Jamie Merlin Kraegenbrink, age 47, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 21, 2025, in Wausau, WI. Jamie was born to John and Barbara (Piller) Kraegenbrink on July 2, 1978, in Wausau. He attended and graduated from Merrill High School.

He had a deep love for photography and a fascination with rocks and agates, which he enjoyed collecting, tumbling, and...