Obituaries

Aug 18, 2023

 

 

Michelle ‘Micki’ P. Laatsch, age 66, of the town of Pine River, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Friday, August 18, 2023.  She was born on December 23, 1956 to James and Bonnie (Bacon) Wolff in Merrill, WI.  Her mother survives.  Micki grew up in Merrill and attended and graduated from Merrill High School. She enlisted in...

Aug 16, 2023

Warren Eldon Bartelt, 93, unexpectedly died August 16, 2023 at his home as a result of a heart attack while mowing lawn. He was born on March 14, 1930 to the late Edwin and Eleanora (Leistikow) Bartelt. On July 30, 1960 he married Cecilia Schreiner at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Athens, WI. Warren was a member of St. Francis Xavier...

Aug 14, 2023

Ruth Ann Schult, 83, of Merrill, passed away Monday, August 14, 2023, at her home, one day after her 83rd birthday celebration, surrounded by her family.

Ruth was born August 11, 1940, in Medford, daughter of the late Walter and Francis (Rudolph) Faude. She married LaVern Schult March 15, 1974, in Medford. He preceded her...

Aug 8, 2023

 

Bernice “Hunsie” Perry, went to her Heavenly home on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at the age of 99 years. She was residing at the Wausau Manor for the last several years.  She was born on April 19, 1924 to the late John and Minnie (Lemke) Zimmerman in Merrill.  Bernice attended and graduated from Merrill. She married Wilburn “Wibby” Perry...

Aug 7, 2023

Ronald (Ron) Harold Nicklaus passed away on Monday, August 7, 2023, at the Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau. He was born on February 9, 1936, in San Jacinto, California. Son of Elmer Nicklaus and Jessie (Cottrell) Nicklaus.

Ron’s parents moved from Irma, Wisconsin to San Jacinto, California in 1934. Jessie had family living in California. They returned to Wisconsin in...

Aug 6, 2023

Kathryn Ann (Kluetz) Lee, age 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday August 6, 2023 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. She was born on November 5, 1940 to the late Harold and Rosalie Kluetz in Merrill. She married David Lee on November 29, 1958 and he preceded her in death.

Katy graduated from Our Lady of the Holy Cross High...

Aug 5, 2023

 

It is with sadness that we share that James ‘Big Jim’ H. Jesperson Sr., age 79, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, with his loving family by his side. 

Trying to sum up who Big Jim was in a few short paragraphs is an injustice to him.  He was loved by...

Aug 1, 2023

Dawn M. Jewell, age 72, of Gleason, died on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. She was born on January 15, 1951 in Rhinelander, WI; the daughter of Marilyn and Art Wells. She grew up in Rhinelander with her parents and siblings. Dawn is survived by her lifetime companion, Robert Ryan, in which they lived together at their home in Gleason.

Dawn...

Jul 30, 2023

 

Russell B. (Russ) Warye, age 80, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, July 30, 2023 and “crossed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees”.  He is survived by his beloved “Bride”, Patricia Lynn of 40 years, sons: Russell L. (Suzanne) of Glencoe, IL and Shane (Jill) of Tampa, FL, sisters, Patricia Barnes (Rick) and Kathy...

Jul 29, 2023

Vernon H. Woller, age 97, of the Town of Berlin, Marathon County, passed away on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at his home under the care of his family and hospice services.

Vernon was born April 17, 1926, in the Town of Hamburg, Marathon County, son of the late Harvey and Eldora (Harder) Woller. He married...

Jul 26, 2023

Ernest P. ‘Pat’ Weisskopf, 65, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Pat was born January 17, 1958, in Merrill, son of the late Ernest and MaryAnn (Klade) Weisskopf. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1976. Pat worked at Mitchell Metal in Merrill and at the time of his retirement in 2021, he...

Jul 26, 2023

Alan F. Janquart, 77, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at his home under the care of his family and Interim Hospice.

Al was born April 25, 1946, in Green Bay, son of the late Norman and Laverne (Linssen) Janquart. He married Gale Lindstrom on October 1, 1966, in Green Bay. On October...

Jul 21, 2023

 

Mark James Weix Sr., age 82, of Merrill, passed into eternal rest from natural causes on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Bell Tower Residence, where he and his wife, Betty, resided.  Mark was born on August 23, 1940 to the late Emil and Kathleen (O’Malley) Weix in Medford, WI. He married the love of his life, Betty Schewe, on...

Jul 18, 2023

Alvin E. Lezotte, 88, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Alvin was born March 28, 1935, in Neillsville, Wisconsin, son of the late Edward and Hazel (Peaslee) Lezotte. He married Yvonne Schmidt on November 25, 1961, in Neillsville. She survives. Alvin enlisted in the United States Army in March of 1958....

Jul 17, 2023

Lois M. Latzig (Nee Bennett), 87, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Monday, July 17, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after spending her last days surrounded by her family.

Lois was born September 10, 1935, in Tomahawk, daughter of the late Arthur and Mae (Pecore) Bennett. Lois married Warren E. Latzig...

Jul 13, 2023

 

Marlyn G. “Corky” Woodward, age 69, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on May 25, 1954 to the late Harvey II and Evelyn (Rucks) Woodward in Wausau, WI.  Corky met the love of his life, Danette Leer, and the two exchanged marriage...

Jul 12, 2023

 

Georgene L. Oestreich – Ritchie, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  Georgene was born on December 16, 1946 to the late Ralph Thomas and Rosalie Ann (Adams) Lane.  She attended and graduated from high school before entering the...

Jul 9, 2023

Grace L. Batchelder, 90, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2023, at her home under the care of her family and Compassus Hospice.

Grace was born May 19, 1933, in the Town of Pine River, daughter of the late Lyndon and Emma (Verbeck) Geiger. She married Donald Batchelder on May 21, 1952, at St....

Jul 2, 2023

LaVine Valera Woller, age 96, of Merrill, Wisconsin peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Bell Tower Residence Assisted Living in Merrill, Wisconsin. She was born on August 21, 1926 to the late William and Hertha (Sturm) Neumann in the Town of Berlin, Wisconsin.

LaVine married her first husband, Charles Bartelt, on June 6, 1946, he preceded her...

Jun 24, 2023

 

Anne Theresa Ashbeck, 77, passed away unexpectedly on June 24, 2023. She was surrounded by her family.  Anne was born October 12, 1945, to Nicholas and Eudora Dirkx of Gleason, Wisconsin. After graduating from Merrill Senior High School, she became a respiratory therapist and worked throughout her career at Merrill and Wausau Hospitals.

While working at Merrill Hospital, she...