Lorraine P. Wiederhoeft

Lorraine Phyllis Wiederhoeft, age 85, of the Town of Hamburg, was called home to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, May 1, 2026 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, after a short illness.

Lorraine was born on July 11, 1940, the second of three daughters, to the late Franklin and Irma (Hanke) Kopplin at St. Mary’s Hospital in Wausau, WI. She attended Woodland Dale School, a one-room schoolhouse in the Town of Stettin. Lorraine graduated from Wausau High School in 1958. After high school, she farmed alongside her parents in the Town of Stettin. Lorraine married the love of her life and best friend, Stanley Wiederhoeft, on March 21, 1970 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Town of Rib Falls. They spent nearly 52 years together and raised 4 children on their farm in the Town of Hamburg. They were greatly blessed with 6 grandchildren. Stanley preceded her in death on March 10, 2022.

Lorraine was a hard-working woman who was a self-employed dairy and crop farmer for 59 years, until the age of 77. She farmed alongside her husband for 47 of those years, always helping with field work and milking cows. Lorraine was a homemaker who enjoyed housekeeping, making centerpieces, doing her yard work, mowing lawn, planting flowers, gardening, canning, feeding and watching her birds, and especially attending her grandchildren’s many activities. In Spring, she loved watching the bluebirds nesting in her many bluebird houses and feeding grape jelly to the dozens of orioles at her birdfeeders.

Lorraine’s greatest joy in life was raising her family. She was a loving, devoted mom and grandma. She always put her family first, before herself. Her grandchildren affectionately called her “Grandma Rain” since they were little. She loved baking them dozens of Christmas cookies every year and watching them grow up. She also loved getting texts and pictures from her children and grandchildren.

Lorraine leaves behind her 2 daughters: Lori Wiederhoeft and Dixie Wiederhoeft, both of Hamburg, two sons: Chris (Jennifer) Wiederhoeft and Michael (Rebecca) Wiederhoeft, both of Merrill, 5 grandsons: Austin, Darrin (fiance Grace Koehler), Matthew, Brayden, Mason and 1 granddaughter: Kaitlyn, sister-in-law and brother-in-law: JoAnn (Lyle) Mathwich and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sisters and brother-in-laws: Joanne (Charles) Zahn and Mary Ellen (Orville) Krueger, sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Jenine (Robert) Bonke, father-in-law and mother-in-law: Martin and Edna (Schoenherr) Wiederhoeft and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral service for Lorraine will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church - 134058 County Road L, Hamburg WI. The Rev. Donald Love will officiate. Burial will take place at St. John’s Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM at Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral Home - 301 South Eagle Drive, Merrill, WI and again at the church on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

A special THANK YOU goes out to the nurses and staff at Aspirus Wausau Hospital for the great care given to Lorraine during her hospital stay.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral and Cremation is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

“Be Thou Faithful Unto Death, And I Will Give Thee A Crown of Life.” ~ Rev. 2:10