Obituaries
Meredith J. Peterson
Sep 10, 2025
Meredith Peterson, 89, of Merrill passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at Aspirus Hospital, Merrill.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and later moved to Merrill after meeting her husband. Together, they owned and operated a dairy farm in the town of Pine River, where they worked side by side and built a life rooted in family and community. Meredith...
Ronald W. Mootz Sr.
Sep 10, 2025
Ronald W. Mootz Sr., 72, of Merrill, passed away peacefully in his home on September 10, 2025.
He was born on August 28, 1953, to Walter and Alice (Kanitz) Mootz of Merrill, WI.
Anyone that knew Ron knew that hunting and running hound dogs was his passion, especially as a young man. Many a night were spent in a corn field chasing...
Michael W. Thiel
Sep 9, 2025
Michael W. Thiel, 59, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau.
Michael was born February 13, 1966, in Madison, son of John and Judine (Kroll) Thiel. He graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1985. Michael attended Lincoln Industries for years. He enjoyed working at Hardee’s, but his favorite job was...
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
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
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
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
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
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,...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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....
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