Obituaries

May 1, 2022

Kevin John Neitzel, age 66, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 1, 2022, on the family farm in the town of Pine River.  He was born on January 11, 1956, to the late William and Jean (Gryskiewicz) Neitzel in Milwaukee, WI. Kevin attended and graduated from Wauwatosa East High School.

During his adult life, Kevin worked in...

May 1, 2022

Scott A. Heidemann, age 65, of Merrill, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, May 1, 2022 after being unexpectedly injured doing what he loved – the evening farm chores.

Scott was born March 4, 1957, to Victor and Marjorie (Turbin) Heidemann. He was the fourth generation to grow...

Apr 30, 2022

William L. Kidder passed away on April 30, 2022, at Mount View Nursing Home in Wausau, Wisconsin.

William was born September 25, 1927, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late William and Virginia (Loomis) Kidder. He entered the U.S. Army at the end of World War II after preparing for his service for four years of ROTC training...

Apr 30, 2022

John Patrick Blakeslee “Pat” was not a man who’s life could be recounted within the confines of this text. With that in mind, the characteristics and accomplishments most cherished by his surviving family are as follows: Pat lived out his life with unwavering faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a radical man with radical faith. Pat was...

Apr 25, 2022

Jason Michael Kleinschmidt, age 47 of Merrill, passed away on Monday April 25, 2022, after a courageous 5-year battle with cancer.  He was surrounded by his wife Tanya, his Children, Amber, Michael and Matthew and a house full of family.

Jason was born September 24, 1974, to Gene and Judy (Baguhn) in Merrill, WI.  When Jason was...

Apr 22, 2022

Marian M. Kottke was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.  She passed away on April 22, 2022, at the age of 82 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by a constant stream of loving family and friends. She was even blessed to enjoy her last Easter celebration surrounded by more than 70 family members.

Apr 16, 2022

Ruth A.E. Benson of Irma, Wisconsin, daughter of Ben and Dena (Krause) Hemmrich was born on January 24, 1926, in Colby, Wisconsin. She passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Merrill, Wisconsin.

She grew up in Price County and attended elementary school in Knox Mills, Wisconsin. She graduated from Prentice High School in 1943. During the...

Apr 12, 2022

Joyce A. (Hensen) St. Mary, age 87, passed away lovingly from the arms of her daughter, Jolene, into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau, WI.  Joyce suffered from many separate chronic conditions over the course of many years.  She is now free from pain.  Joyce was born...

Apr 9, 2022

Bette Jane Baumann, age 94, of Merrill, went to her Heavenly home on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Rennes in Weston, WI, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  She was born on December 21, 1927, to the late Henry and Elsie (Neuman) Litke in Merrill.  She met Edwin Hahn and the two exchanged marriage...

Apr 8, 2022

Carol Jean (Krause) Ward, age 74, passed away on April 8, 2022. Carol was born in Merrill to Clarence and Grace (Sukow) Krause on August 2, 1947. She was received into God’s kingdom of grace through the waters of Holy Baptism at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill, on August 24, 1947, attended Trinity School, and was confirmed in 1961. She...

Apr 4, 2022

Marc E. Wood, 87, passed away Monday, April 4, 2022 at Pine Crest Nursing Home after an illness. He was comforted in his last days by his wife Jeannette (also a Pine Crest resident) and children.

Marc was born April 10, 1934 in Moline, Ill. He married Jeannette Young in 1955 and they raised four children together....

Mar 29, 2022

Patrick ‘Pat’ J. Myers, age 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at his home, while surrounded by his loving family and supported by Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  He was born on February 22, 1943, to the late Jerome and Louise (Michalski) Myers in Milwaukee, WI.  Pat moved to Merrill...

Mar 27, 2022

Susan J. Hinz was welcomed into heaven on March 27, 2022. Sue was born June 4, 1961, to Hobart and Joan (Edbauer) Hinz.  She was very loved by her family and will be sadly missed.

Sue spent most of her career as a CNA at Pine Crest, retiring just last year. More recently, she worked at Wal-Mart...

Mar 24, 2022

Sarah Jean (Lange) Kitchen of Schofield, WI, passed away unexpectedly at St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston, on March 24, 2022, at age 49.  Sarah was a gentle and kindhearted wife, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend.  Sarah was born on July 31, 1972, to Arnold and Elizabeth Lange in Merrill, WI. She graduated Wausau West High School and attended...

Mar 24, 2022

Kathy Sue Simon, a.k.a. “Kat”, age 65, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, March 24, 2022.  Kathy was born on October 27, 1956, to Dick and Gladys (Earls) Levy in Chula Vista, CA.  Her mother, Gladys, survives.  She met Chuck Simon, and the two exchanged marriage vows on November 12, 2003, in California.  Sadly, he preceded her...

Mar 23, 2022

Douglas “Doug” Ray Sprague, age 63, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away surrounded by his family on March 23, 2022, after battling cancer for 26 years. He was born on August 29, 1958, in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois to the late Robert Ray and Myrna Florence (Williams) Sprague.

Doug grew up in Clinton, Illinois. He was united in marriage to...

Mar 19, 2022

Carl Randolf Westberg Sr., age 92, of Merrill, Wisconsin, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, Wisconsin. He was born on January 31, 1930, to the late Randolf and Marie (Daren) Westberg in Wausau, Wisconsin.

On May 10, 1952, Carl and Mary...

Mar 19, 2022

Stephen “Steve” John Blake, age 81, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was born on December 8, 1940, to the late Cella Emmett and Eleda Candace (Severson) Blake in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

On September 10, 1966, Steve married Linda L. Hojan at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Steve worked as a manager at Woolworths for 11...

Mar 10, 2022

Stanley Allen Wiederhoeft, age 84, of the town of Hamburg, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, March 10, 2022.  He was born on February 26, 1938, to the late Martin and Edna (Schoenherr) Wiederhoeft at the Memorial Hospital in Wausau. He attended and graduated from Merrill Senior High School with the class of 1956 and went on...

Mar 3, 2022

Our beloved James “Jim” George, age 77, passed peacefully at home from this life into Glory on March 3, 2022. His family was by his side. Jim was born in Columbia, South Carolina to William and Eloise (nee Howell) George. Jim had many aunts, uncles and cousins growing up and had fond memories of their get-togethers with pig pickin’,...