Renee M. Hess

Renee M. Hess, 75, of Phillips, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at her home under the care of her family and Interim Hospice.

Renee was born December 30, 1949, in Iron Mountain, MI, daughter of Robert and Arlene (Sturm) Schultz. She married Jeffery Hess on February 20, 1989, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He survives. Renee spent her adult life in healthcare helping people and often referred to herself as, Dr. Renee. While living in South Dakota, she saved a drowning victim through the use of CPR. For her swift actions, Renee was given a president’s award by Ronald Reagan. Once she moved back to Wisconsin, she spent many years working at Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield in various departments.

Rene battled with PSC for twenty-one years and even though her prognosis was often grim she fought hard and never lost her spark. There was always a smile on her face and she lit up every room she entered. Renee was a very active member of the PSC Face Book Support Group and had participated in several clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic. Ultimately, she lost her battle with PSC to one of its most feared complications; bile duct cancer. 

Renee was one of the most thoughtful, caring and forgiving people to grace the earth and will be dearly missed by everyone she touched with her kindness and generosity. Renee always put everyone else’s needs before her own and checked in with her lists of people every single day. If she missed a day of sending someone a message or making a call the family knew something was up. Even as her health journey worsened, she still would always check on her loved ones. She loved to give people the things she would craft especially center pieces and wreaths. She enjoyed stopping in at her brother’s evergreen business and making arrangements. Renee loved to shop! If there was a Hobby Lobby or Michael’s store nearby, Renee was going in!

Some of Renee’s favorite things included: Diet Coke, ice cream, Cardinals, crafting, riding motorcycle, snowmobiles and ATVs, and meeting new friends through Facebook. She loved all things that were embellished with ‘bling’ and collected sloths and Willow Tree figurines.

Renee had many nicknames: Sugar Grandma, Sugar, Auntie Renee, Red and Sparky were just a few of them. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and passed her love of crafting down to them. Renee was a guardian angel to everyone’s kids.

Survivors include her husband, Jeffrey Hess of Phillips; children, Jason Krueger of Eau Claire, Jennifer Jewel (Roland “Roll-Daddy”) Kauffman of Stratford, Aaron Hess of Milwaukee, Mike (Rhina) Krueger of Rhinelander, Ryan (Lindsey) Hess of Madison, and Jenny (Tony) Wester of Luxemburg, WI; grandchildren, Tricia (Bruce) Berg, Hannah Krueger, Mason Kauffman (Bryne Schram), Zach Fisher, Josh Francisco, Max Krueger, Wyatt Krueger, Hayden Langreck, Calvin Wester, and Tate Wester; great grandchildren, Jordyn, Nolan, Amara, & Julian; brothers, Jeff (Marsha) Schultz of Rhinelander and Jon Schultz of Merrill; special nieces and nephews, Christopher (Marling) Schultz, Jonathon (Kristina) Schultz, Aaron Schultz, JJ Schultz, Lucas Schumacher, Renee Schumacher, and Olivia Griseta; and several great nieces and great nephews.

Renee was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Arlene Schultz; and her sister, Melinda Schumacher.

The memorial service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation – 301 Eagle Dr., Merrill. The family will receive friends beginning at 4:00 P.M. until the time of service.

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