Obituaries

Sep 17, 2021

Kathleen ‘Sparky’ Mae Graap, age 74, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021, at her residence, while surrounded by her loving family and while under the care of Interim Hospice.  She was born on February 9, 1947, to the late Hugo and Evelyn (Nienow) Schleif in Merrill.  Kathleen attended and graduated from Merrill High School, and then...

Sep 17, 2021

Robert John (RJ) Hoock, Jr, of Merrill, WI passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 17, 2021, in Minneapolis, MN.  RJ was born September 2nd, 1982 in Landstuhl, Germany and is the son of Robert Hoock, Sr (Edith Hoock) of Abbotsford, WI and Trina Johnson (Robbie Johnson) of Merrill, WI.  In addition to RJ’s parents, he is survived by his sister...

Sep 16, 2021

Konrad Surber, age 77, of Merrill, passed away September 16, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Konrad was born April 1, 1944, in Regensberg, Switzerland. He came to the United States in 1969 and purchased the Hilltop Farm in the Town of Corning. His operation eventually became a 300-acre dairy farm, and it was the pride and joy of his...

Sep 13, 2021

William ‘Bill’ Paul Goetsch, age 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, September 13, 2021, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital.  He was born on September 5, 1937, in the town of Corning, Lincoln County, to the late Ronald and Lillie (Radtke) Goetsch.  Bill graduated from Concordia College in Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in...

Sep 13, 2021

James ‘Jim’ M. Dickson Sr., age 85, of Merrill, WI, formerly of Portage, WI, died on

Monday, September 13, 2021, at his home. He was born on December 27, 1935, in

McAlester, OK and was the adopted son to the late Marion and Mary (Fitzner) Dickson.

Jim was raised and attended school in...

Sep 12, 2021

James Scott Schult, 47, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed unexpectedly on September 12th, 2021. Jimmy was born August 19th, 1974, in Wausau, to loving parents Ronald and Carolyn ‘Carol’ (Liebers) Schult. He graduated from Wausau West High School in 1992 and went on to pursue a career as a plumber, with his most recent employer being Stainless Specialist from 2006...

Sep 9, 2021

Brian J. Kingsley, age 50, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at his home under the care of his family and Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. Brian was born November 19, 1970, in Wisconsin Rapids, son of the late Robert and Barbara Kingsley. Brian was preceded in death by his loving companion and life partner,...

Sep 8, 2021

James E. ‘Jim’ Schult, age 73, of the Town of Scott, Lincoln County, passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at his home. Jim was born August 23, 1948, in Merrill, son of the late Herman and LaVila (Sturm) Schult. Jim was a 1966 graduate of Merrill High School. He worked at Wausau Homes for several years and also VanDerGeest...

Sep 8, 2021

It is with great sorrow the family of Aubrey Koehler announce her passing.  A master of Rubik’s cube and a lover of painting, Aubrey passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday September 8, 2021. Aubrey was born October 3, 2008 and lived in Merrill.  She was a student at Prairie River Middle School.

She was quiet but introspective, always willing...

Sep 4, 2021

Raymond J. ‘Ray’ Heller, age 90, of rural Merrill, passed away Saturday, September 4, 2021, at North Shore Riverview in Tomahawk. Ray was born March 15, 1931, in the Town of Schley, son of the late Arthur and Frances (Geiss) Heller. He married Harriet J. Raasch on January 26, 1952, and she preceded him in death September 13, 2008....

Sep 4, 2021

On Saturday, September 4, 2021, the angels came for Margaret M. Hermanson, as she entered eternal rest while in her daughters’ arms, at the age of 94 years old.  Margaret was born to the late Hugh and Sarah Ritchie in Belfast N. Ireland on February 9, 1927.

“God called your name so softly,...

Aug 30, 2021

Rose Marie Pierce, age 57, of Merrill, WI, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2021, at home while under the care of hospice while surrounded by her loving family after a courageous 3 1/2-year battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer).

Rose was born on August 26, 1964, at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights, IL and was the...

Aug 29, 2021

Marjorie L. Meyer, 89, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill. Marjorie was born March 10, 1932, in Merrill, daughter of the late Arnold and Margaret (Savaske) Zimmerman. Marjorie was a homemaker and stay at home mom to her children. She enjoyed playing bingo and cards, taking casino trips, visiting her...

Aug 27, 2021

Shirley ‘Shirlee’ J. Gathercoal, age 94, passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021, at Woodland Court Elder Services in Merrill.  She was born on April 10, 1927, to the late Edward and Blanche (Jordan) Larson in Kansas City, Missouri.  Shirlee attended and graduated with honors from high school.

Shirlee worked as a transcriber at a large insurance...

Aug 26, 2021

Dorothy M. Gibson, age 94, of Merrill, died on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  Dorothy was born on July 30, 1927, to the late Robert and Elizabeth (Beaudoin) Gibson, in Trout Lake, MI and was the youngest of her siblings.  She...

Aug 25, 2021

Phyllis J. Meyer, age 78, of Merrill, unexpectedly went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at Good Samaritan Health Center in Merrill. She was born March 9, 1943, in Merrill to the late Emery and Phyllis (Schuman) Morrison. On November 18, 1961, Phyllis and Herman Meyer were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran...

Aug 22, 2021

Delmar Fredrick “Turk” Jaeger, 86, of rural Merrill, past away unexpectedly at home, late evening, August, 22nd, 2021.  The youngest of 14 children, Turk was born July 22nd, 1935, to Albert Jaeger and Selma (Kufahl) Jaeger at home in Marathon County and was raised on the family farm.  He attended local schools and entered military service in 1956, serving...

Aug 21, 2021

Dennis Rothmeyer, 73, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away on August 21, 2021, in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was born on July 9, 1948, in Wausau, WI to Derold and Delores (Kolter) Rothmeyer. Dennis married Paulette (Grefe) Rothmeyer on July 25, 1970, in Merrill. She passed away on January 26, 2020.

Dennis was the first employee hired at GPI...

Aug 21, 2021

Wanda Ann Harris, 72 of Merrill, Wisconsin went to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ, on August 21, 2021.  Wanda was born on October 17, 1948 in Merrill, Wisconsin to Roger and Joan Gutknecht.  She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from John Brown University in 1970.  At JBU, she met her soon to be husband, Donald...

Aug 19, 2021

Fred Gerald Heldt, 60, of Merrill, Wisconsin, passed away on August 19, 2021 at his home. He was born on August 3, 1961 to Fred and Donna (Larkee) Heldt in Merrill, Wisconsin.

After graduating high school, Fred joined the army and served in the Gulf War. While overseas, his first conflict was the Noriega invasion of the...