Rose M. Plano

Rose Mary Plano, 103, of Sylvan Crossing on Evergreen, Wausau, died on Thursday, June 27, 2024. 

Rose was born on March 26, 1921, in Merrill, WI. The daughter of Joseph P. and Anne E. Fischer. She married Franklin R. Plano on January 31, 1942. Rose enjoyed many activities including golf, bow hunting, fishing, traveling, and reading. She relished entertaining and hosted many parties at the family home in Wausau, at the cottage in Winchester, and at the winter rentals in Alabama. 

She is survived by: (2) Sons: Franklin V. (Joann) Plano of Wausau. David J. (Patricia) Plano of Minocqua. Son-in-law: Christopher Flatter. (10) Grandchildren, (15) Great-Grandchildren, (16)Great Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband: Franklin R. Plano, her daughter Susan K. Flatter. 

Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday July 2, 2024 at St. Michael Catholic Church at 10:30 am (611 Stark Street, Wausau WI 54403) Fr. Allan Slowiak will officiate. Visitation will be held on Tuesday July 2, 2024 from 9:30 am until the hour of service at the church. Entombment will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park at 12:00 PM.

Imelda A. Dvorak

Imelda A. Dvorak passed away at home peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of June 30, 2024.

She was born June 19, 1931, in Milwaukee, daughter of the late Clem and Cecilia (Wilger) Weiler.  She grew up in Athens where she would help her dad out in his wood shop (Weiler Woodwork) making windows and chairs.  She worked at the Athens Pea Canning Factory and also as a caregiver for Alex & Marie King’s five children as they ran the Gable Store in Athens. 

Imelda met Harry F. Dvorak at a dance in April of 1952 and they were married on August 27, 1952 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens.  They owned a farm on Pioneer Rd, Town of Rietbrock for 23 years.  They sold the farm in 1975 and built a home on Iron Bridge Rd, Town of Bern.

They had five children, Jim (Paulette) Hansen, Athens, Judy (Tim) Weis, Spencer, Bonnie (Gary Hauke) Dvorak, Stratford, Tom Dvorak and Tammy (Jamie Albrecht) Dvorak, both of Athens; four grandchildren, David (Michelle) Dvorak, Jeremy (Laurie) Jacob, Sara (Jeff) Osborn and Bobby Jacob; nine great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sylvia (Teddy) Weiler.

Besides her parents and husband, Harry, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Bob, Eugene and Gerald.

Imelda always liked to stay busy.  She taught herself how to knit and crochet and made such beautiful snowflakes, doilies, baby outfits, socks and potholders.  She could also play piano and accordion by ear.  She enjoyed reading and loved to bake.  Mom worked up to the age of 87 helping to make firewood and sweeping up out in the family’s sawmill business.  She always put the needs of those she loved ahead of her own.  Being a quiet person, at family get togethers you would find her in the background smiling and listening.  She would never complain regardless of how much pain she was in she would never cry.

How lucky we were to have had a mom that was so great saying goodbye to her is so hard.

Mom, “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 5, 2024 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens.  Rev. George Graham will officiate.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Athens.  Visitation will be Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service all at the Athens funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com

Eileen J. Bender

Eileen June Bender, 96, formerly of Mosinee, peacefully passed away on June 28, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Eileen was born June 1, 1928, in Colby, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late Elroy and Anna (Engel) Gutenberger. After graduating from Colby High School in 1946 she moved to Milwaukee where she worked in a factory sewing piecework. On June 16, 1948, she married the love of her life and favorite dancing partner, Melvin Bender, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. He preceded her in death on April 15, 2013.

Eileen was a homemaker while they lived in Dorchester until 1961 when they moved to Mosinee where Melvin managed the Rocky Ridge Co-operative Dairy Company. Together they worked side-by-side for nearly 15 years. In 1965 Eileen earned a cheesemaker’s license. At that time she was one of about twenty females to have a cheesemaker’s license in the State of Wisconsin. She worked as a lab technician testing milk for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) for ten years until her retirement in 1986. She was a member of St. Monica’s Ladies Council at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Mosinee, the Marathon County Extension Homemakers and the Central Wisconsin Cheesemakers and Buttermakers Association.

Mel and Eileen enjoyed dancing, playing cards, yardwork, boating, and traveling in their fifth-wheel camper. They wintered in Mission, Texas for twelve years. Eileen liked to sew, do counted cross-stitch, jigsaw puzzles and tend to her flowers and garden. In December 2013 Eileen moved to Renaissance Assisted Living, Weston.

Eileen was devoted wife, a loving mother and proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandson. She valued education and was pleased that her family pursued further schooling and felt that when you educated a woman you educated a family. Survivors include her children, Lynn (Richard) Heil, Weston, Bob (Vicki) Bender, Tomahawk, Kathy Vesely, Mosinee, and Barry (Ellen) Bender, New London; nine grandchildren Jeffrey (Allison) Heil, Carrie Heil, Mark Heil, Jennifer (Peter) Bender, Jackie (Ryan) Bartelak, Brenda (Cory) Cooper, Gina (Jesse) Machak, Kelly (Seamus) Wedge, Kyle Bender; 15 great-grandchildren, Nathan and Jenna Heil, Cody and Drew Brehm, Hatie, Rio and Willa Bender, Bennett, Charlotte and Brady Bartelak, Harlie (Forest )Landwehr, Jack and Jerry Machak, Elise and Lydia Wedge and one great-grandson, Russell Landwehr. She is also survived by one sister, Eldora Schuster; two sisters-in-law, Ann Gutenberger and Shirley Walsh. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers, Roy Gutenberger, Jim (Grace) Gutenberger, and sisters, Rita (Armin) Walsh and Sharon (Dave) Treutel, brother-in-law Gordie Schuster and son-in-law, Jerry Vesely.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Mosinee. The Rev. Eric Masick will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Mosinee. Visitation will be from 9:30 -11:00 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.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Renaissance Assisted Living for the kindness and care given to Eileen during her time with them and St. Croix Hospice during her last days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made in Eileen’s name may be directed to a charity of your choice.

Dennis E. Heil

Dennis Ervin Heil passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024 at the age of 80 in the care of Aspirus Hospital and his loving family.

Dennis was born in Illinois on April 5, 1944 to Rosina and Ervin Heil. As a young boy, his family moved to a farm in Marathon, WI. There he grew up with his five brothers, Arnold, Richard, Jim, Eugene, and Roger as well as his five sisters Elaine(deceased), Theresa, Rose, Barb, and Marge.

He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School, Marathon High School and NTCI. After graduation he served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany for three years. He married Carol Wierzba and together they purchased land in Marathon, built a home, and raised three sons; Shawn, Jody and Jeremy. Some of Dennis’ happiest times were spent teaching his sons all the skills he had learned over his lifetime.

Dennis worked at the former Drott Manufacturing (JI Case) for 27 years where he held various positions. After his retirement from Case, he worked part time for Sulzer Machining in Mosinee as a machinist. Dennis never stopped learning and creating. He was always building something with his hands. 

Dennis never got over his childhood love of tractors and spent his retirement collecting and restoring antique Case tractors. He and his wife, Carol, spent many summer weekends traveling the US in their camper to tractor shows, pulls and swap meets, always looking for that special part he needed or that model tractor he didn’t have. They loved traveling, camping and fishing together. They especially loved spending time with their sons and their families.

 Dennis was proud of his service to his country. One of his proudest moments was going on the Honor Flight with his brothers Arnie and Richard. He said it was the trip of a lifetime. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 225780 Rib Mountain Drive #234 Wausau, WI 54401, in his name. (Donate – Never Forgotten Honor Flight)

Dennis was a loving and kind husband, father, and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Carol, his sons Shawn, Jody (Laura), and Jeremy (Joelle), his grandchildren Elizabeth, Claire, Marcy, Graeme, Ella, Jackson, Will and great-grandson Caspian (Elizabeth and Andreas Fritz) Fritz.

A private family funeral will be held at a later date with the assistance of Brainard Funeral Home-Wausau.