Obituaries

Mar 26, 2019

Duane Leighton Tomajcik aka “Mike” or “Tomato”, age 86, of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, at the Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.  He was born on April 26, 1932 to the late Sylvester and Evelyn (Neumann) Tomajcik in Merrill.  Duane attended and graduated from Merrill High School – Class of 1950, and has never missed a reunion!  After...

Mar 26, 2019

Ruth Ida Turner-Roe, age 98, of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, under the care of Ascension Hospice Services.  She was born September 4, 1920 to the late Peter & Anna (Seeger) Spanheimer.  Ruth married Harold Hantke in Milwaukee; he preceded her in death.  She married Frank Turner-Roe in Milwaukee;...

Mar 20, 2019

Helen Esther Mosser, nee Zastrow, age 103, of Merrill, entered eternal life on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill.  She was born on September 14, 1915 to the late Emil and Augusta (Raatz) Zastrow in Merrill.  Helen attended school at Pine River until the 8th grade.  She met and fell in love with...

Mar 19, 2019

Phyllis A. Blake, 95, of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, while residing in Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Phyllis was born December 31, 1923 in Stratford, Iowa, daughter of the late Peter and Clarice (Swedlund) Christensen. She married Warren ‘Keith’ Blake on February 24, 1946 in Iowa. He preceded her in death on December 7, 1996....

Mar 18, 2019

Donald C. Pankow, age 70, of the town of Maine, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 18, 2019 at his home.  He was born on October 1, 1948 to the late Carl J. and Marian (Kelley) Pankow in Chicago, IL.  Don was baptized on December 18, 1948 and was confirmed into the Christian faith on April 15, 1962. He...

Mar 16, 2019

Denise J. Rice, 75, of Merrill, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at her home. Denise was born March 9, 1944, in Merrill, daughter of the late Hugh and Dolores (Damaske) Lee. She married Irvin Rice, Jr. on August 7, 1965 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill. He survives. Denise attended nursing school and received her L.P.N. license. She...

Mar 13, 2019

I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years....

Mar 10, 2019

Delores O. Procknow, 86, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2019 at the House of the Dove in Marshfield. Delores was born May 4, 1932, in the Town of Corning, Lincoln County, daughter of the late Martin and Selma (Berndt) Oestreich. She married Melvin ‘Sam’ Procknow on May 12, 1951. He preceded her in death on February 28,...

Mar 8, 2019

Stephen R. ‘Stevie’ Weber, 57, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, March 8, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. Stevie was born December 26, 1961 in Milwaukee, son of the late John G. and Patricia M. (Gibson) Weber. Stevie was a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and a lifelong resident of the Merrill community....

Mar 7, 2019

John P. Renken, 78, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2019. John was born August 20, 1940 son of the late Ulrich and Adela (Dengel) Renken. He married Barbara A. Breunig on January 10, 1959. She preceded him in death on February 14, 2019. Barbara and John dairy farmed in the Town...

Mar 6, 2019

Mary E. Williams, age 84, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Ascension Hospice Services. She was born on September 5, 1934 to the late Charles Francesco and Jane Montour in Milwaukee, WI. She married Richard Williams in Irma on February 4, 1961. He preceded...

Mar 5, 2019

Franklin ‘Frank’ M. Mootz Sr., age 78, of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, WI, with his loving family by his side.  He was born on February 28, 1941 to the late Benjamin and Florence (Woller) Mootz Sr. in Merrill.  Frank attended Merrill High School.  After school, he met Alice...

Mar 4, 2019

Leonard H. Scheu, age 97, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, March 4, 2019 at home while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  He was born on November 5, 1921 to the late John and Selma (Natzke) Scheu in the town of Corning.  Leonard married Myrtle (Radloff) on June 21, 1947 in Merrill.  She preceded...

Feb 24, 2019

Constance “Connie” S. Jaeger, age 70, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by her family.  She was born December 27, 1948 in Chicago, ILL to Arthur & Florence (Debrowski) Komrofske.  Constance married Philip Jaeger on June 8, 1968 in Chicago, Ill, he survives.

Constance lived on a farm where...

Feb 23, 2019

Clara E. Hinz, age 99, of Merrill, passed away on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill, surrounded by her loving family. Clara was born December 31, 1919 in Merrill, daughter of the late Elmer and Rose (Peterson) Ullman. She married William C. Hinz, Sr. on June 28, 1941. He preceded her in death on May...

Feb 17, 2019

Vivian L. Sczygelski, age 77, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, February 17, 2019, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  She was born on April 30, 1941 to the late Clarence E. and Margaret (Fishbeck) Laak in Merrill.  Vivian attended and graduated from St. Francis Catholic school...

Feb 16, 2019

Ronald W. Krueger, age 79, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Ronald was born July 8, 1939, in Wausau, son of the late Roman and Frieda (Radenz) Krueger. He married Ann Zemke on September 17, 1960. She preceded him in death on July 12, 2008. Ron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps...

Feb 15, 2019

Mary G. Gustin, age 84, of Merrill, passed away Friday, February 15, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Mary was born June 20, 1934, daughter of the late Robert and Pearl (Burns) Hartson. She married William T. Gustin in 1951. He survives. Mary’s family was the most important thing to her. She truly enjoyed the time she spent...

Feb 14, 2019

Barbara A. Renken, 77, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Thursday, February 14, 2019. Barbara was born December 11, 1941 daughter of the late Raymond and Anna (Dault) Breunig. She married John Renken on January 10, 1959. He survives. Barbara and John dairy farmed in the Town of Pine River. Barbara had also worked in...

Feb 9, 2019

Jodie Rose (Higgins) Rethaber, 41, passed away unexpectedly as a result of a snowmobile accident on February 9, 2019. Jodie was born November 27, 1977 in Wausau, WI, to Kathleen Svoboda, Merrill and the late, Wesley Higgins. She married Martin (Marty) Rethaber on May 28, 2014, in Merrill, WI.

She graduated from Merrill High School in 1996,...