Obituaries

Osc(Sw) Nickolas Wayne Gulke

Dec 27, 2017

Operations Specialist Chief Petty Officer Nickolas Wayne Gulke, 33, of Lake Stevens, Washington, passed away at his home Wednesday, December 27, 2017, from natural causes. Nick was born October 8, 1984 in Woodruff, son of Dennis Gulke and Connie (Herdt) Gulke. He married Erin Klug on June 11, 2005, in Merrill. She survives. Nick was actively serving in the...

Julie Hornung

Dec 27, 2017

A life well lived, a life full of love for her husband Jim and dogs (Oscar and Axel). Julie A. Hornung held God’s hand as she joined him on the walk home to Heaven on December 27th, 2017.  Julie was born in Berlin, WI on December 28th, 1961 to Ervin and Alice Fay of Berlin, WI, one of...

Jo Baughan

Dec 27, 2017

Laura Duginski

Dec 25, 2017

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2017, Laura Duginski passed away after a three-day battle with sudden illness.  She leaves behind a legacy of courage, strength, hope, and love.

Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2014.  Laura, however, desired to see her daughter graduate from college, a gift she had vowed to provide both...

Dorothy E. Koehler

Dec 23, 2017

Dorothy E. Koehler, 97, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill. Dorothy was born February 13, 1920 in the Town of Corning, Lincoln County, daughter of the late Fred and Anna (Berndt) Krause. She married Reuben Koehler on September 11, 1937 at St. Stephens United Church of Christ, Merrill. He preceded her in...

Irene M. Baumann

Dec 22, 2017

Irene M. Baumann, 94, of Merrill, passed away Friday, December 22, 2017 at Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital, Merrill. Irene was born August 21, 1923, in Milwaukee, daughter of the late Albert and Emilie (Henkelman) Braun. She married Carl W. Baumann on August 28, 1943 in the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County. He preceded her in death on May...

Pete Annis

Dec 21, 2017

Peter A. Annis, of Irma, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Ministry St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston, WI, while surrounded by his family and friends.  He was the son of the late Charles and Doris (Schenzel) Annis, and was born on December 1, 1953 in Merrill.  Pete attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Merrill High...

Debra McPherson

Dec 21, 2017

Debra Krueger McPherson, age 64, formally of Merrill, Wisconsin and now residing in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, passed away Thursday December 21, 2017 under the care of Care Partners Assisted Living of Manitowoc and the Asera Care Hospice program. She was born November 6th 1953 in Medford Wisconsin. She was married to Alfred McPherson of Stuttgart Arkansas who preceded her in...

Jayne L. Annis

Dec 20, 2017

Jayne L. Annis, age 90, formerly of Merrill, now of Weston, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Jayne was born July 30, 1927, in Merrill, daughter of the late Arthur and Agnes (Ringle) Tholl. She married Ellsworth ‘Beaner’ Annis, Jr. on January 23, 1943, in Merrill. He preceded her...

Carol L. Long

Dec 19, 2017

Carol L. Long, 58, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2017 in Wausau. Carol was born November 23, 1959, in Milwaukee. She worked for 20 years as a registered nurse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Carol is survived by her mother, Roseann Wetter of Merrill; daughter, Alicia Long of Alexandria, Virginia; son, Jacob (Lia) Long of Sioux Falls,...

Lynda Benzinger

Dec 16, 2017

Lynda Benzinger, age 62, of Merrill, passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. Lynda was born on July 22, 1955 to David “Knocky” and LuEllen (Utecht) Benzinger in Merrill. Lynda enjoyed car rides to the casino. Lynda enjoyed cuddling with her beloved dog, “Tiny”. She was well-known as a good cook...

Ronald R. Lemmer

Dec 12, 2017

Ronald Robert Lemmer, 80, formerly of Wausau, passed away on December 12, 2017 at Woodland Court Elder Services, Merrill. Ron was born on December 1, 1937, to the late Aloys and Frances (Hornung) Lemmer in Marathon. As a young boy, he spent the first 5 years of his life with his family in Marathon, moving to Milwaukee during World...

Christine C. Langbecker

Dec 12, 2017

Christine “Chris” Cay (Ollhoff) Langbecker of Merrill, WI passed away on December 12, 2017, surrounded by her family. Chris was born in Merrill, WI to John and Bonnie (Plamann) Ollhoff on December 4, 1963. Throughout her 54 years, Christine wore many hats and held many titles. After meeting the man of her dreams on New Year’s Eve 1981, she...

Robert Jackson

Dec 8, 2017

Robert A. “Bob” Jackson, 94, passed away peacefully December 8, 2017, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill WI.

Bob was born on December 5, 1923, in Fargo, South Dakota, to Claude and Helms (Olson) Jackson.  His family moved to Wisconsin where he attended grade school and later graduated from Jordan High School, West Allis,...

Robert Jackson

Dec 8, 2017

Arrangements and obituary are pending.  Please check back at a later time.

Sister Ann Wittman

Dec 8, 2017

Sister Ann Wittman, SCSC, age 90,  a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, died, December 8,  at Bell Tower Residence Assisted Living in Merrill, WI.

Ann Marie Wittman was born on October 8, 1927 in Merrill, Wisconsin, daughter of Walter and Mabel (Downie) Wittman.  She entered Holy Cross Convent in Merrill, Wisconsin, on...

Raymond J. Waschick

Dec 6, 2017

Raymond J. ‘Ray’ Waschick, 93, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Ray was born August 27, 1924, in Merrill, son of the late Adolph and Alice (Lawrence) Waschick. He married Irene Borelli on February 10, 1945. She preceded him in death on May 13, 2003. Ray had dairy farmed, drove truck...

John Krznarich

Dec 6, 2017

John J. Krznarich, age 75, of Ironwood, MI, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.  He was born on November 24, 1942 to the late Joseph J. and Evelyn (Johnson) Krznarich / Finco in Ironwood, MI.  John attended and graduated from the St. Ambrose Catholic School in Ironwood, MI and joined the United States Air...

Donald Forster

Dec 6, 2017

Donald “Don” H. Forster, age 83, of Merrill, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston, WI.  He was born on July 25, 1934 to the late Albert and Minnie (Schulte) Forster in Merrill, and attended school in Gleason.  After school, Don joined the Army National Guard in 1953 and proudly served...

Brandon Blaise

Dec 5, 2017

Brandon J. Blaise, age 24, died unexpectedly in his sleep at the Raddison Blue Hotel on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, while visiting the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN. He was born July 23, 1993 in Marshfield to Kenneth Blaise and Reyne (Emerich) Blaise.

Brandon attended Washington and Jefferson Elementary schools and Prairie River Middle School as...