Obituaries

Johanna L. Hoerstmann

Aug 28, 2019

Good Saint Francis, you loved all of God’s creatures. To you they were your brothers and sisters. Help us to follow your example of treating every living thing with kindness. Johanna Lynn (Osness) Hoerstmann, 53, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly due to a motor vehicle accident on August 28, 2019. Johanna was born January 11, 1966, in Merrill, daughter...

Karen M. Langbecker

Aug 28, 2019

Karen M. Langbecker, 59, of Wausau, WI, passed away peacefully at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on August 28, 2019. Karen was born in Merrill, WI to Harold and Alice Garves on September 26, 1959. In 1977, she graduated from DC Everest High School. On September 15, 1979, Karen married her high school sweetheart Rick Langbecker. For 35 years she was...

Timothy O'Leary

Aug 26, 2019

Tim O’Leary, age 74, of Merrill died Monday, August 26, 2019 at St Clare’s Hospital, Weston, after a brief battle with cancer. Tim was born in Wausau on May 31, 1945, to the late Milton and Jean O’Leary.  He had two sisters, Lynn Wolfe of Middleton who preceeded him in death and Diane Plant of Mosinee who survives.  He...

Lester W. 'Les' Sukow

Aug 25, 2019

Lester W. ‘Les’ Sukow, 98, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with his family by his side. Les was born February 11, 1921 in Merrill, son of the late William and Vallie Sukow, Sr. He married Elaine Doering on October 10, 1942. She survives. Les was a 1939 graduate of Merrill Senior...

Philip M. "Pt" Thompson

Aug 21, 2019

Philip M. Thompson, “PT”, 84, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston. Phil was born April 6, 1935 in Irma, Wisconsin son of the late Theodore and Marie (Anthony) Thompson. He married Norma J. Wethern on May 21, 1960 in Wausau. She survives. Phil had been employed at Marathon Electric, Wausau...

Donald 'Don' Miller

Aug 21, 2019

Donald ‘Don’ Lee Miller, age 78, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.  He was born on September 5, 1940 to the late Elmer and Charlotte (Werner) Miller in Appleton, WI.  Don attended and graduated from Appleton High School.  He married Kay E. Goldbach on August 2, 1972 in Milwaukee,...

William 'Bill' Kroll

Aug 14, 2019

William (Bill) F. Kroll of Eagle River, WI passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2019.  He passed peacefully in Hospice at Pride TLC in Weston.  Bill was 77.

Bill was born to parents Frank and Marian (Baldwin) Kroll on March 28, 1942 in Green Bay, WI.  He grew up in the Green Bay area but his heart...

Craig R. 'Gus' Osness

Aug 11, 2019

The clock of life is wound but once And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still. After a short life, well lived, Craig...

Marilyn (Gulke) Briest

Aug 9, 2019

Marilyn (Gulke) Briest, age 86, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, August 9, 2019 at Azura Memory Care in Wausau.  She was born on June 24, 1933 to the late August & Helen (Krueger) Rubom in Chicago, Ill.  She and Walter Gulke were united in marriage on June 30, 1951. They later divorced. She then married Paul Briest. He...

Rita G. Oestreich

Aug 8, 2019

Rita G. Oestreich, 83, of Merrill passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Ascension Good Samaritan Health Center, Merrill. Rita was born July 3, 1936 in Cohocton, New York daughter of the late Loris and Laura (Brown) Graves. She married Edward Howard and he precedes her in death. Rita had been a secretary in both New York and...

Michael W. Chrudimsky

Aug 7, 2019

Michael W. Chrudimsky, 65, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 of natural causes while he was an inpatient at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Mike was born November 21, 1953 in Antigo son of the late George and Geraldine (Guth) Chrudimsky. He is survived and will be missed by his wife of 36 years, Jeanne (Schramke) who he...

Kenneth 'Kenny' Wenzlick

Aug 7, 2019

Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Wayne Wenzlick, age 72, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 in the palliative care / hospice care unit at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Kenny was born on March 30, 1947 to the late LaVern and Mae (Leopold) Wenzlick in Merrill.  He married Penny Jo Gunderson on November 11, 1972,...

Merlin 'Merlie' Steinagel

Aug 7, 2019

Merlin ‘Merlie’ E. Steinagel, age 78, of the town of Corning, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital, with his family by his side.  Merlin was born on June 29, 1941 to the late Fred and Leona (Schultz) Steinagel in Merrill.  He attended school in Merrill.  After meeting and falling in love with...

Emilie J. Strohm

Aug 6, 2019

Emilie J. Strohm, 81, formerly of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at her daughter’s home in Sturgeon Bay, under the care of her family and hospice services. Emilie was born June 6, 1938, in Merrill, daughter of the late Henry and Louise (Savaske) Plautz. She married Roy L. Strohm on May 4, 1957 in Merrill. He survives....

Muriel R. Day

Aug 4, 2019

Muriel R. Day, 94, of Merrill passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill under the care of her family, the nursing home staff, and hospice services. Muriel was born February 27, 1925, in Marion, Wisconsin daughter of the late Ed and Elsa (Kundert) Degner. Her first marriage was to Ralph Hintze in January...

Irene M. Haig

Aug 3, 2019

Irene M. Haig, 94, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, August 3, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Irene was born October 17, 1924, in the Town of Vilas, Langlade County, daughter of the late Frank Sr. and Elizabeth (Buchta) Glugla. She married Bernard McKinney on June 18, 1942. He preceded her in death on July 19, 1976. She...

Anne Germain

Aug 1, 2019

There is no appropriate or possible way to summarize the life of the blissfully strong, and unapologetically beautiful young woman, Anne Alicia Germain. Anne is the daughter of Michael and Laurie Germain, sister of Alex Germain. Anne is also loved by her grandparents, Fred and Carol Pester, aunts and uncles; Michelle (Howard) Sczygelski, Jean (Tom) Kouba, Polly (Jay Koebe),...

Louise Peterson-Schmidt

Jul 30, 2019

Louise Lorraine Peterson-Schmidt, age 90, of Merrill passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at her residence, while under the care of Interim Hospice.  She was born on July 26, 1929 to the late Owen and Leonora (Hottenstein) Jones in Oshkosh, WI, and was baptized at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gleason.  She attended Merrill High School and graduated...

Betty Hehling

Jul 29, 2019

Betty Hehling, 65, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, July 29, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Betty was born November 27, 1953, in Merrill, daughter of the late John Jr. and Darlene (Weinkauf) Hehling. She graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1973. In her earlier years, Betty worked as a dietary aid at Pine...