Obituaries

May 25, 2017

Viola H. ‘Vi’ Wendland, 94, of Merrill, formerly of Tug Lake, passed away peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on May 25, 2017 at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill. Vi was born September 18, 1922 in Merrill, daughter of the late Emil and Elizabeth (Murray) Hinz. She married Alfred R. Wendland on April 24, 1943. He preceded her...

May 21, 2017

Arleigh M. Jameson, age 88, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Pine Crest Nursing Home under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. She was born September 23, 1928 in Madison to the late Omer and Evelyn (Schuldt) Peterson. Arleigh and Clifford Wyland were united in marriage on June 7, 1947. He preceded her in...

May 20, 2017

May 13, 2017

Shari S. (Perry) Guenther, age 68, of Merrill, unexpectedly left this world on Saturday, May 13, 2017, while surrounded by her loving family at her residence in Kronenwetter, WI. Shari was born on June 16, 1948, to Wilburn and Bernice (Zimmerman) Perry in Merrill, WI. Her mother survives. She attended and graduated from Merrill High School. Shari married the late...

May 9, 2017

Jennifer "Jenny" K. Wimmer, age 45, of Merrill, died on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill, while surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. Jenny was born on April 25, 1972 to Robert (deceased) and Gloria (Engel) Kunkel, in Merrill. Her mother, Gloria, survives. She attended...

May 8, 2017

Tammy A. Koporetz, age 56, of Merrill, passed away Monday, May 8, 2017 at Pine Crest Nursing Home after a short battle with cancer. She was born in Milwaukee on January 10, 1961 to Edward and Edith (Kopydlowski) Koporetz. Tammy graduated from South Milwaukee High School. She went on to earn her degree in Broadcasting. Tammy then became a homemaker...

May 6, 2017

Jean A. Prather, age 85, formerly of the Town of Pine River, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Jean was born August 28, 1931, in Merrill, daughter of the late Arthur and Emma (Severt) Neubauer. She married John Prather in 1951. The marriage ended with his death in 1991. Jean had worked...

May 4, 2017

Thomas Betchwars passed away May 4, 2017, at the age of 61. A Family Celebration of his life will be held at a later date. On September 4, 1955, Frank and Dorothy Betchwars welcomed Thomas into the world. Soon after, he became big brother to Pete, Mary, and Mike. Tom married the love of his life, Roxy Belgram, on...

May 4, 2017

Mae E. Lupton, age 92, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. Mae was born on May 17, 1924 to the late Walter and Dorothy (Peterson) Woellner in Merrill, WI. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill. She met and fell in love with Elmer Lupton,...

May 3, 2017

Jerry L. Schroeder, age 70, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at St. Clare's Hospital in Weston, while surrounded by his loving family. Jerry was born on September 19, 1946 to the late Floyd and Henrietta (Litke) Schroeder, in Merrill. He attended and graduated as the class of 1964 at Merrill High School. Jerry furthered his education...

May 2, 2017

Dolores ‘Dolly’ Daley, age 85, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Bell Tower Residence under the care of hospice services. She was born July 22, 1931 in New London, Wisconsin to the late Lionel ‘Smokey’ and Josephine (Brown) Minton. She married Charles Oleson on July 31, 1949 and they divorced in 1971. She then married Patrick...

May 1, 2017

Robert Bonke, 79, of Merrill, died Monday, May 1, 2017, at his home, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. Bob was born December 8, 1937, in Merrill, son of the late William H. and Emma L. (Krueger) Bonke. He married Jenine M. Wiederhoeft on October 14, 1967, in St. John Lutheran Church, Hamburg. She preceded...

Apr 26, 2017

David S. Lampley, age 56, of Merrill, died unexpectedly Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Good Samaritan Health Center. He was born November 9, 1960 in Illinois to the late Albert and Linda (Unk) Lampley. On March 14, 1992, he married Myoung. She survives. David attended school in Illinois and after graduation went on to college. He worked for many years...

Apr 25, 2017

Sherida "Jean" Franzen, age 77, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at St. Clare's Hospital in Weston. She was born on September 8, 1939 in Cicero, IL to the late Earl and Marcia (Barkley) Ward. On May 25, 1957, Jean and Donald Franzed were united in marriage in Chicago, a union that would last over 55 years. He...

Apr 24, 2017

Walter F. ‘Wally’ Wolff, age 94, of Merrill, died Monday, April 24, 2017 at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Walter was born January 5, 1923, in Merrill, son of the late Jacob and Lydia (Reifschneider) Wolff. He married Betty Turbin on May 17, 1947, at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ, Merrill. She preceded him in death on July...

Apr 20, 2017

John D. Slewitzke, Jr., age 84, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Pine Crest Nursing Home. John was born on February 26, 1933, in Merrill, son of the late John and Theresa (Styza) Slewitzke, Sr. John married Darlene Juhlke on March 22, 1957, and they were blessed with twin daughters, Debra and Dawn. As a...

Apr 20, 2017

Juanita Emma Harkner, age 86, of Merrill, entered into eternal life with her Lord on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at the Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau, WI, while surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. She was born on July 5, 1930 to the late Charles and Inza (Brandenburg) Grohman in...

Apr 17, 2017

Richard L. Williams, age 81, of Merrill, passed away Monday, April 17, 2017 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was born February 2, 1936 in McGregor, Iowa to the late William & Florence (Kellogg) Williams. He entered the National Guard in February of 1954 until February of 1961 when he married Mary Ellen Montour on February 4, 1961. She survives. Richard...

Apr 10, 2017

Margaret M. Rajek, 92, of Merrill passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at Artisan Assisted Living in Merrill, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. Margaret was born March 10, 1925 in Carter Lake, Nebraska, daughter of the late William and Marie Moran. She married Edgar D. Rajek on March 24, 1945 in Omaha, Nebraska....

Apr 9, 2017

Sandra "Sandy" Jane Hoffman, age 74, of Merrill, passed away after a hard battle with brain cancer, on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at the Aspirus Palliative Care Unit in Wausau. Sandy was born on September 18, 1942 to the late John and Francis July in Tomahawk, WI. She attended and graduated from Merrill High School. When Sandy was younger, she...