Obituaries
Arnold W. 'Butch' Wyland Jr.
May 3, 2026
Arnold W. ‘Butch’ Wyland, Jr., 81, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Dimensions Living in Wausau.
Arnold was born May 13, 1944, in Merrill, son of Arnold and Lucy (Jahnke) Wyland. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1972. Arnie married Carol Vaughn on December 2, 1962, at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Irma. She survives. For over...
Lorraine P. Wiederhoeft
May 1, 2026
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...
Zakary Ryan Plautz
Apr 30, 2026
Zakary “Zak” Ryan Plautz, age 32, of Merrill, WI, passed away at his home on April 30, 2026.
Zak was born on August 16, 1993 in Sheboygan, WI to Wendy Plautz and Ryan Posewitz. Throughout his school years, Zak excelled in academics and the arts. From his theatrical performances in costume at home as a child to wowing audiences in his...
Diane Louise Peterson
Apr 28, 2026
Diane Louise Peterson of Rubicon, WI, passed away April 28, 2026, in Richfield, WI.
Diane was born March 10, 1949, to Glenn and Louise Peterson. She married Larry I. Karau on December 18, 1970. He passed away on December 14, 1977.
Diane attended Barnes Creek School for five years, then went to Lincoln County Normal School after the one room country school...
Linda M. Schmidt
Apr 27, 2026
The Reverend Linda Schmidt
Linda Marie (Johnson) Schmidt was called home to be with her heavenly father on April 27, 2026 at home and surrounded by her family.
Linda was born on September 14, 1945 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the third of four girls to her parents Eleanor (Martens) and Oscar Johnson. Linda’s mother was a beautician and regularly sat the girls down...
Charles F. Reinhardt
Apr 26, 2026
Charles Frederick Reinhardt May 2, 1935 – April 26, 2026
Charles F. Reinhardt passed away Sunday, April 26th after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Charles was a proud Veteran, serving in the Army National Guard. He worked as a welder for the former WI Fuel & Light and then over 35 years as a heavy equipment operator for Merrill...
Rob L. Hartwig
Apr 25, 2026
Robin (“Rob”) Lee Hartwig, 68, passed away on April 25, 2026, at his home in Merrill, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born on January 13, 1958, in Merrill, to Larry and Sandra (King) Hartwig. His mother survives.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barb Hartwig; his children, Amanda Hartwig, Mollie Hartwig, Katie (Patrick)...
Douglas 'Doug' Baumann
Apr 22, 2026
Douglas “Doug” Baumann, 76, Town of Wausau, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at home surrounded by his family, just 37 days after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He was under the care of his loving wife of 53 years, Sharon and Aspirus Hospice and Comfort Care. He was born May 14, 1949, in Wausau, the son of...
Lee Edward Gille
Apr 18, 2026
Lee Edward Gille, passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on August 22, 1937, in Merrill, Wisconsin, Lee was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He made a lasting impact on everyone he encountered.
Lee married the love of his life, Nancy (Engel) Gille, on September 19, 1959. They were inseparable for 66 years.
Lee had...
Carol J. Osness
Apr 16, 2026
Carol Jean Osness, 86, of Merrill, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital surrounded by her family.
Carol was born September 2, 1939, in Lincoln County, WI to Floyd and Selma (Mittlesteadt) Zortman. Carol attended Trinity Lutheran School for eight years and Merrill High School.
In 1956, Carol married the only love in her life, Allen K. Osness. They...
Mary Ann Abraham
Apr 13, 2026
Mary Ann Abraham passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026, at the age of 85. Mary Ann was born on May 16, 1940, in Jennings, Wisconsin, to Fred and Elfreida (Matzke) Meister. She graduated from Wausau Senior High in 1958 and went on to lead a life filled with love, laughter, and a passion for serving others.
Mary Ann spent over...
Ethel R. Tritten
Apr 12, 2026
Ethel R. Tritten, 84, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2026, at her home under the care of her family and hospice services. Ethel was born on January 28, 1942 in Wausau, daughter of the late Carl and Dorena (Jaeger) Dittmar. She married Harry 'Hans' Tritten on July 11, 1959. He preceded her in...
Daniel Edward Lau
Apr 9, 2026
DANIEL "DAN" EDWARD LAU, age 68 of the town of Schley, died on April 9, 2026 at Aspirus Wausau hospital with his loving wife and caregiver at his side.
Born in Wisconsin Rapids on November 20, 1957, Dan was the son of Richard L. and Shirley M. (Stensberg) Lau. He began his schooling at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids...
Gary S. Rauen
Apr 5, 2026
Gary Sylvester Rauen was baptized into Christian faith on May 11, 1947, at Holy Family Church in Willard, WI.
Gary S. Rauen, age 78, of Merrill, Wisconsin, passed away on April 5, 2026, while under the hospice care, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on April 22, 1947, in Neillsville to George and Mabel Rauen, Gary was a man of strong faith,...
Carol J. Cortright
Apr 3, 2026
Carol J. Cortright, 59, of Merrill, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at her home under the care of her family and Interim Hospice.
Carol was born December 16, 1966, in Chicago, daughter of Donald and Sherida ‘Jean’ (Ward) Franzen. She graduated from Merrill High School with the Class of 1985. Carol married Gerald ‘Jerry’ Cortright on July 7, 2001, in...
Kenneth John Behrend
Apr 2, 2026
Kenneth John Behrend, 88, passed away peacefully in Merrill, Wisconsin on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Woodland Court Elder Services under the compassionate care of Aspirus Hospice Services and Woodland Court Staff.
Kenneth was born on June 15, 1937 in Wisconsin Rapids to Louwin and Elsie Behrend. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. He obtained his diploma for...
Jean K. Howick
2026
Jean K. Howick, 91, of Merrill passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, following a very courageous battle with cancer.
Jean was born in London, England to Charles and Edna ‘Kathy’ Howick. She came to the United States in the early 50’s and settled in the Minneapolis area. In the early 70’s, the family relocated to Merrill.
Jean spent her Merrill career...
Theresa Marie Renken
Mar 31, 2026
Theresa “Terry” M. Renken (nee Wianecki) was born October 13, 1939 at her parent’s home in the town of Kronenwetter, Mosinee, Wisconsin to the late Felix and Stella (Ogonowski) Wianecki. She was received into God’s kingdom of grace through the waters of Baptism in 1939 and received Holy Communion in 1952 at St. Paul Catholic Church of Mosinee. Theresa converted...
Ralph H. Schulz
Mar 28, 2026
Ralph H. Schulz, 86, of Merrill, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 28, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Ralph was born March 25, 1940, in Merrill, son of Harry and Erna (Berndt) Schulz. He graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1959. He married Bernice Christine Schult on June 19, 1965. She preceded him in death on...
Michael Peeters
Mar 25, 2026
Michael (Mike) Peeters, age 75, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with cancer on March 25, 2026. Mike was born on April 25, 1950 to the late Harold and Elizabeth (Peterson) Peeters in Merrill, Wisconsin.
Mike attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and then Merrill High School. After school he enlisted in the...
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