LaVern A. Reigel
LaVern Anthony Reigel, 94, passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024, at home surrounded by family.
He was born on October 10, 1929, at home in Marshfield, WI, the son of the late William and Marcella (Schmidt) Reigel. LaVern married Erma Doris Schumacher on October 21, 1950, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Bakersville, WI. LaVern proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He worked at Hoffer Glass as a salesman until he retired at 62. He enjoyed spending the winter months in Florida and the summer in Hazelhurst at the lake. LaVern loved spending time with his family, music, and woodcarving.
Survivors include four children, Larry (Sandy) Reigel of Pittsville, Vickie Reigel of Florida, Kay (Philip) Kostka, and Allen (Mary) Reigel both of Kronenwetter; twelve grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. He is further survived by his siblings, William (Pat), Carol (Eddie) Becker, Richard (Tessa), and Shirley (Clifford) Hirsch.
LaVern was preceded in death by his wife, Erma Reigel; three daughters, Rolinda Mae Reigel, Joy Kraus, and Renee Haroldson; and brothers, Eugene (Doris), Robert (Kathleen), Clara (Roger) Hartl, Clifford (Johnette), Lyle (Victoria), Gerald (Kristine), and James (Diane).
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Parish, 150051 Mead Lane, Mosinee. Father Jim Trempe will officiate. Entombment will be in the Memorial Chapel Mausoleum at Restlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Monday, April 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce Street, Wausau concluding with a 7:00 p.m. parish rosary service. Visitation will resume on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until services.
Our family wishes to thank the Aspirus Hospice team for the loving care they provided him.
Dale D. Howard
Dale Howard joined his wife, Mary Ann, at rest, on March 26, 2024. Dale was born July 16, 1932, in the Town of Maine, to Harry and Lillian (Lemke) Howard, spending his younger years learning self-sufficiency by growing vegetables, canning for winter, picking wild nuts and berries, fishing, and hunting.
He attended Wausau East High School where he met, and later married, Mary Ann Larson. Together they owned Howard’s House of Trees, a retail and wholesale Christmas tree business. Dale grew well over 100 thousand Christmas trees for many years, and provided the Wausau area with beautiful green and flocked trees, wreaths, and decorations. Dale took great care and pride in perfecting his trees, winning state and national awards. One year, even providing the Christmas trees for our state governor’s mansion. He loved being in nature among the trees and was a sage resource on evergreen trees and their production.
Dale was musically gifted, playing violin, clarinet, and piano. In high school, he joined a group of classmates as their piano player, to form what would become the Jerry Goetsch Orchestra. For over sixty years, the band played at local wedding dances, in ballrooms, in parades, at bandstands in parks, on a weekly radio show, and then on their own weekly television show. The popularity of their “dance along” style TV show led to the formation of Polka Productions which took fans of the band on their first organized trip in 1973 to the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Traveling with the band’s annual spring and fall trips became very popular with fans and enabled Dale and Mary Ann to ultimately travel the world.
He also worked in the offices of Murray Machinery for many years and was a member of the Stettin Lion’s Club.
Dale is survived by two daughters, Robin Tankersley of Algonquin, Illinois and Sue Howard of Woodinville, Washington. Grandchildren include Mattie Connelly of Kenmore, Washington, Kaitlyn Tankersley of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Shaun Wahlig, and Gowri Wahlig both of Glendale, Wisconsin. As well as great grandchildren Mackenzie and Nora Connelly, and Olivia and Vincent Wahlig. He is further survived by nieces and nephews.
Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Howard; parents, Harry and Lillian Howard; brother and sister-in-law, Harry Jr. and Martha Howard, and brother, Donald Howard (Mary Ann). His father and mother-in-law, Chester and Jane Larson; brother and sister-in-law, Perry and Marion Larson; and brother-in-law, Larry Larson (Karen).
A funeral service will be held Friday, April 5, 2024 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 630 Adams Street, Wausau. Rev. Maggie Westaby will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10:30 am at the church until the time of service. Burial with military honors provided by the American Legion Montgomery-Plant-Dudley Post 10 will follow the service at Pine Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Dale’s name to the Marathon County Humane Society.
Brenda S. Yaklovich
Brenda S. Yaklovich, 58, died Monday, March 25, 2024, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at her home.
She was born July 14, 1965, in Upper Michigan, daughter of Victoria (Alderton) Calhoun and the late William Calhoun. In 1988 she married David Yaklovich in Upper Michigan.
Brenda worked as an office manager for City Wide Insulation. She enjoyed down hill skiing and getting muddy on her atv. Spending time with her family and watching her grandchildren grow is what she enjoyed doing most.
Survivors include her husband, David Yaklovich; children, Mikaela (fiancé Dana Dobbe) Yaklovich and Cody (Janessa) Yaklovich; grandchildren, Brynleigh, Clarke and William Yaklovich; mother, Victoria Calhoun; siblings, Rebecca, Daniel, Michael and Robert; other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Calhoun.
Visitation will be 4 – 7 pm Friday, April 5, 2024, at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Glen M. Witter
Glen Michael Witter, 69, of Wausau, Wisconsin, passed away on March 20, 2024 of leukemia.
Glen was born on February 21, 1955 in Wausau to LaVern and Rose Mae (Curler) Witter. He and his twin sister Jacquelyne were their parents’ first children, and were followed by brothers Mark and Michael.
Glen attended Wausau West High School and went on to study business at UW Eau Claire. He later completed a business program at Harvard University. The early death of his father in 1976 stimulated a lifelong drive to work hard to ensure his mother and siblings were cared for. He credited his father as his biggest inspiration and strove to make him proud.
His lifelong passion for aviation was also inspired by his father. Glen was an admirer of many aircraft, but was especially proud of his Stearman biplane, an open-cockpit WWII training airplane. He had many other hobbies including golf, writing, entrepreneurship, classic cars, and photography.
Glen’s real estate agency, Security Realty, sold over a billion dollars of real estate in over forty years of business. He was a consummate entrepreneur who was always searching for a new business venture. He had a curious mind and a love of learning. He was renowned for his incredible memory and encyclopedic knowledge of many topics.
As a father, his main priority was instilling a drive for success in his children. He believed they could accomplish anything if they set their minds to it. He would frequently tell people how proud he was of them.
Despite life’s challenges, he was an optimist who frequently referred to himself as “the luckiest man in the universe” and often said “every day is a holiday.”
Glen is survived by his loving partner of over ten years, Heidi Priddy, his five children, Natalie (Geert), Alexander (May), Samantha (Tyler), Vanessa, and Alanna (John), his grandchildren Cameron and a baby-to-be, and his brothers, Mark (Cathy) and Michael.
Special thank you to all who cared for him at Marshfield Clinic, especially his oncologist Dr. Fagbemi.
Services to be held this summer.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Robert E. Rogalla
Robert Edwin “Bob” Rogalla, 85, of Weston, Wisconsin, joined his Lord and Savior in Paradise on March 24, 2024. He passed away at the Wausau Aspirus Hospital with his loving family at his side. He was born on February 13, 1939, in Wausau and grew up in a large family on their farm near Bevent, WI. He graduated from Wittenberg High School, and then served in the U.S. Army from January 1958 through December 1959 as a Combat Engineer stationed in Germany.
Bob was a friendly, faithful, and outgoing family man who loved to talk and joke with anyone and everyone. He never considered anyone a stranger; they were simply a friend he just hadn’t met yet. Bob married the love of his life, Katherine “Katy” Kavajecz on July 1, 1961 in Wausau. He and Katy raised six wonderful and spirited children, and they were further blessed with 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren over their 62-plus year marriage.
In his professional life, Bob worked as a Field Engineer for NCR (National Cash Register Corp.) for 31 years before starting and operating his own business, BR Sales and Services, for 25 years. He also enjoyed building and working in his meager spare time. He and Katy built two family cottages from the ground up, and he made countless cords of wood with his sons over the years.
A lifelong Catholic Christian, Bob worshipped at St. Mark Parish in Rothschild and then St. Anne Parish in Wausau. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and loved the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. Later in life, Bob embraced and expressed a passion for ballroom dancing, where he especially cherished dancing with his beloved wife, but also enjoyed with anyone else he could get to dance with him. Bob loved getting away to their lake cottage where he spent many hours on the water fishing, watching the loons and eagles, and just enjoying God’s Country “Up-North.” He also thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation in the Village of Maine where he and Katy built a home and lived for 25 years. In October, he and Katy became residents at Renaissance Assisted Living Community in Weston where they made many new friends among the residents and staff, and enjoyed many new activities there.
Bob is survived by his wife, Katy Rogalla; his children Robert J. (Anna) Rogalla, Michele “Missy” Whalen, Diane (Scott) Graykowski, Anthony “Tony” (Debbie Rank) Rogalla, Terrence “Terry” (Theresa) Rogalla, and Patrick Rogalla; grandchildren Ben (Kaera), Jenny (Dustin Tatro), Nick, and Joe Rogalla; Carissa, Jake, and Mariah Whalen; Payten (Sophie) Graykowski; Caitlin Rogalla, Sara (Kyle) Kimerling, Holly (Tristan) Peterson; Bridget (Cory) Ottum, Mckenzi, Nolan, Keira, Alonna, and Trenten Rogalla; and Paige, Parker, and Felicity Rogalla; great-grandchildren Jovie and Jacklyn Kimerling; Audrey, Aileen, Ellis, and Melanie Ottum; Grant Graykowski; and Emberlee Peterson. In addition, Bob’s sister Barbara Worzalla and brothers-in-law Jim, Rudy (Audrey), and Andy (Carol) Kavajecz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Benedict Rogalla, his parents-in-law, Rita and Joseph Kavajecz, ten siblings, and three siblings-in-law.
The Funeral for Bob will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. Anne Catholic Church in Wausau, WI. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by the Mass at 11:00 AM. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Deborah D. Hanford
Deborah Dawn Hanford (Deb/Debbie) passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 17th, 2024.
Deb was born on January 25th, 1967, in Greenbay, Wisconsin. She than was adopted in April of 1970 at the age of three years old to Vera and William J Hanford SR of Stevens Point Wisconsin. She had two sisters, Sharon Emirbayer, Wendy Hohmeyer, one brother, William J Hanford JR.
As a child, she attended school in Steven’s point, played violin, had two cats, enjoyed going to MC Dill Pond, and Holloween was her favorite holiday.
Deb was free spirited, caring, enjoyed spending time with family and friends, hardworking, went to bible study, enjoyed going to any kind of races, being out on the boat, going to the beach, fires in the back yard, camping, and enjoyed the small hobby farm she had with a variety of animals for a few years.
She loved, cared, and would do anything for her daughters, and grandsons. She would help anyone in need if she was able to. She will be missed by many.
Deb is survived by her sister Wendy Hohmeyer, Michigan, her brother William J Hanford JR, Texas, several nieces, nephews, cousins, her three daughters and 5 grandsons, Melissa Wierzba, Carson and Carter Knoblock, Wisconsin, Lacey Huckbody, Legacy and Legend Le’Flore, Wisconsin, Haley Huckbody, and Mason Campbell, Wisconsin.
She proceeded in death by her Mother and Father, Vera and William J Hanford SR, Stevens Point Wisconsin, her sister Sharon Emirbayer, New York, and a nephew Christopher Hohmeyer, Michigan.
Dennis L. Fladvid
Dennis Fladvid, 75, passed away Tuesday, March 19th, after battling a long illness.
He was born on September 26th, 1948, son of the late Arnold and Wilma (Singkofer) Fladvid of Mosinee.
He attended Mosinee School District where he enjoyed fishing and playing hockey. Later on to play for the Mosinee Papermakers.
Dennis met and married Karen Behn at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church on October 19th, 1968.
He served in the Army National Guard, a salesman for Bob Johnson and Fred Mueller until his retirement.
He enjoyed his time boating, fishing, playing games and cards at the family cottage in Hazlehurst. After his retirement he enjoyed going to the Snowhawk snowshoe baseball games in Lake Tomahawk and playing cards with the guys.
Dennis is survived by his spouse, Karen of 55 yrs., daughters Heidi (Bob) Wierzba and their children Lorelai, Isabella and Cooper, Heather (Mike) Theiss and their children and their children Amyah and Aramie, brother-in-laws James and Dennis (Denny #2) Behn, nephew Brian Baars, nieces Brenda (Jason) Budnik, Denyal (Travis) Garski, Jamie (Tony) Carpenter, eight great nieces, two great nephews, four great great nieces, one great great nephew and friends.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, brother Larry Fladvid, in-laws Harvey and Margaret Behn, grandparents Peter and Esther Fladvid, grandma Roberta Singkofer, aunt Irene Fladvid, sister-in-laws Janet Baars, Barb and Jody Behn
A celebration of life will be held Friday, May 3rd from 4-8pm at River Park, 1098 Armory Rd, Mosinee.
Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at MWCS.WS
Lillian “Cubby” A. Fochs
Lillian “Cubby” A. Fochs, Mosinee, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2024, at Copperleaf, Marathon City, WI with her family by her side.
She was born March 28, 1938, in Wausau, WI, daughter of the late Frank and Rose (Pietrzak) Shnowske. Lillian was nicknamed “Cubby” by her sister Pat at a very young age and has been known as “Cubby” to all since.
Cubby married Ralph Fochs, her high school sweetheart on July 19,1958, celebrating their 65th wedding Anniversary together this past summer.
Cubby, in her High School years, worked as a dental assistant, and at the Bakery in Mosinee. Her biggest love was being a mom to seven children and a homemaker. While raising her family, Cubby worked side by side with Ralph in their carpet cleaning business, Fochs Construction company, and development of subdivisions and homes in Mosinee.
Cubby always had time and energy to care for neighbors or anyone in need. Daily home cooked meals were served at 5:00 p.m. promptly, followed by one of her numerous delicious homemade desserts. Sneaking in the basement freezer for Christmas goodies is one of the kids’ favorite memories.
In her early years, Cubby enjoyed time with her family, camping, and helping Ralph with the boys’ hockey teams. She enjoyed watching grandchildren’s basketball, hockey, and figure skating. We have great family memories of times spent at the cottage.
As children, we are blessed to have had a mother who instilled morals, ethics, values and love for one another. Mom was up from sunrise to sunset cooking, cleaning and enjoying her family. Mom, we are comforted knowing you no longer have to look for Dad (or your purse). We are truly blessed to have had such wonderful parents and grandparents. We thank you and we love you.
The family would like to thank Rev. Aaron J. Becker, staff at Copperleaf (Marathon), Interim, and Heartland for the care they gave to Mom.
Survivors include, children, Pamela (Gary) Ida (Eau Claire), Sherry (Scott) Klemm, Mark (Jocelyn) Fochs, Paul (Laura) Fochs, Seth (Tammy) Fochs, Vicki (Glenn) Kowalski, and son-in-law, Gary Walters, all of Mosinee; grandchildren, Paige (Christopher) Ida, Grant Ida (Karen), Cory (Sally) Holzhauer, Nick (Kaci) Klemm, Kolton (Brandi) Klemm, Mackenzie (Joshua) Knight-Fochs, Kaitlyn Fochs, Anna Fochs, Sarah Fochs (Robert), Jacob Fochs, Amber (Michael) DeBroux, Austin Fochs (Sophie), Casey Kowalski, Cyle Kowalski, Cole Kowalski, Chase Kowalski, Bridgette (Kyle) Walters, Olivia Walters, 8 great grandchildren, and sisters Pat Steg, Barbara Gottschalk, Theresa (Larry) Helbach and a brother Frank Jr. (Barbara) Shnowske. Cubby was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Fochs, her daughter Beth Walters, parents Frank and Rose Shnowske, and Sister-in-Law Rachel Kann, Brothers-in-Law James Kann, Davy Steg, and William Gottschalk.
Funeral Services will take place on Thursday April 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mosinee. The Rev. Aaron J. Becker will officiate. Burial will take place at St. Paul Cemetery, Mosinee. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m., until the time of service, all at the church. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.bestefh.com.
