Obituaries are brought to you by Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Bill McLay
Bill McLay, 83, passed away on November 14, 2017.
Memorial Services are being planned for Wednesday, November 29, at First Presbyterian Church 406 Grant St, Wausau, WI 54403.
Full service information and a full obituary to follow.
Goldie Larson
Goldie M. Larson, 92, Wausau, passed away on November 14, 2017 at New Perspective Senior Living in West Bend, WI.
She was born February 16, 1925, in Colfax, Wisconsin to the late Anna (Lee) and Thorvald Melgaard. She was baptized and confirmed in the Colfax Lutheran Church. She graduated from Colfax High School. Goldie married Casper Greenhill in 1947, who then passed away on January 3, 1954. She then was employed by the Attorneys office of Slocum, Peterson and Bundy in Menomonie for 5 years. Goldie then married Raymond Larson on November 6, 1960 and together celebrated 49 ½ years of marriage. Goldie then became a bookkeeper at Colfax Farmers Union for 23 years and Secretary at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire for 14 years, retiring on February 16, 1990.
She is survived by daughter, Janet (Edward) Eisberner of Kewaskum; son-in-law, Frederick Tealey; 2 granddaughters Holly Eisberner and Alison Simon, one great grandson, Fernando Simon and one great granddaughter Mayabella Simon. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, and daughter, Jane Tealey.
A funeral service will be held Monday, November 27th at 11:00 am at St Stephen Lutheran Church, 512 McClellan St, Wausau. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of service. A luncheon and burial at Restlawn Memorial Park will follow.
The family would like to thank New Perspective Senior Living and the Hospice staff for their care and compassion.
Donald Yaggie
Donald Sidney Yaggie passed away on Wednesday November 15, 2017, doing what he loved, deer-hunting at his cabin.
He was born on November 8, 1953 in Milwaukee, WI. He graduated from Brown Deer High School in 1971 and went on to UW-Stevens Point. After college, he worked in sales for several trucking companies in Green Bay and Eau Claire before finally settling in Wausau. He later worked as a sales rep for Fahrner Asphalt for 20 plus years before retiring in November 2016.
He married Jean Specht on May 17, 1986 in Sheboygan, she survives.
If Don was not in the woods with his English Setter, Brandy, (who enjoyed hunting as much as he did) you would find him fishing from Canada to Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin all year round.
He is also survived by his sister Linda (Bob) Arthur and their son, Derek of Crandon, WI; brother Wayne (Colleen) Yaggie and their daughters Joelle Mizgalski and Jenna Yaggie; brother Dennis (Lee) Yaggie of Port Washington; sisters in law Darlene (Jack) Falle and their sons Joseph and Matt, Fay (Terry) Rose and their children Peter, Scott, and Heidi, Mary (Tim) Rammer and their children Jacob and Megan, Lynn (Jeffery) Ledvina and their children Sarah and Nathan; brother in law Steve (Megal) Specht and their children Steve Jr., Tyler, Lori, and Siri; and sister in law Debbie Specht. He is further survived by his niece Stephanie (Eric) who has meant so much to him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald H. and Marcella Yaggie and mother in law Evelyn (Harvey) Specht.
Funeral Services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2017 at Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston. Rev. Wes Jedras will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name may be given to the Humane Society of Marathon County.
Thank you to all the friends Don has made the last 30 years in Wausau. You all meant so much to him.
Francis “Frank” Arthur Beidle
Francis “Frank” Arthur Beidle, 87, Wausau, died Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, WI.
Frank was born December 13, 1929 in Barberton, Ohio to the late George and Mildred (Krabile) Beidle Jr. He faithfully served in the US Army from July 1951 to June 1953, being awarded the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, 2 Overseas Bars and the Purple Heart for wounds received while fighting in the Korean War. Frank married the love of his life, Viola “Ruth” Truax, on February 10, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. He worked as a clerk and payroll specialist with the US Postal Service for 26 years prior to retirement. Frank and Ruth celebrated 58 years together prior to her death on December 11, 2009.
Frank enjoyed simple pastimes in life; dinning out, taking day long car rides with Ruth and quietly working on latch hook rugs. His skill at making latch hook rugs won him several ribbons from the Waupaca County Fair and can be found decorating his home for the past 7 years, Olson Hall at the Wisconsin Veterans Home.
Frank is survived by his son, Kurt (Cindy) Beidle; grandson, Michael (Cindy) Beidle; great-grandchildren, Kody (Summer) Beidle and Alyssa Beidle; and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, Richard Beidle.
A memorial service for Frank will be at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau. Pastor Rick Kelm will officiate the service and Chaplain Richard Engle sharing memories from King Veterans Home. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home on Tuesday. Military rites will follow, performed by VFW Burns Post #388 and active duty representatives of the US Army. A private inurnment will take place at Moon Cemetery, Town of Bergen. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
Memorials may be directed to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight (4404 Rib Mountain Drive #234, Wausau, WI 54401).
Sincere gratitude goes to the staff of Olson Hall at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King for their kind and compassionate care for the past 7 years and Chaplain Richard Engle for his years of thoughtful ministry, support and friendship.
Florence A. Matushak
Florence Anna (Lang) Matushak, 92, Marathon, died Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at North Central Health Care, Wausau.
She was born March 2, 1925 in Marathon, daughter of the late Ignatz and Margaret (Dalsky) Lang. On May 31, 1944, she married Prosper Matushak at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon. He preceded her in death on February 25, 1973.
Florence provided 54 years of care for her special needs daughter, Theresa, who preceded her in death on January 25, 2016. She volunteered many hours of service at the Marathon Nutrition Center and St. Anthony’s Spirituality Center, after having worked at Club 29 Supper Club and Colonial Manor in Wausau.
Survivors include her six children, Marie (Allen) Freiboth, Janice Baesemann, Leon (Diane) Matushak, Elaine (William) Plante, Eugene (Marcy) Matushak and Vernon (Patsy) Matushak; daughter-in-law, Jean Matushak; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth (Harold) Butalla; one brother, LeRoy (Janice) Lang; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Thomas Matushak; two daughters, Mary Ann White and Theresa Matushak; nine siblings, Gilbert, Rueben, Ralph, Reinholt, Harold and Hugo Lang, Hildegard Rader, Norma Edwards and Marjorie Wilichowski.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon and again on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. There will be a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Walter and Dorothy Stefanski
Walter was born on June 20, 1926 in Aniwa, the son of the late Joseph and Antonine (Konkol) Stefanski. Dorothy was born on January 5, 1930, the daughter of the late Harry Sr. and Lillian (Stubbe) Zunker.
Walter was a US Air Force Veteran serving in the Korean War.
The couple was united in marriage on December 6, 1952 in Wausau. Walter and Dorothy purchased the Aniwa Hardware Store from Leonard and Maude Kautza in 1955. Together they owned and operated the store until 1982. Walter and Dorothy were very family orientated and took many family trips together. The couple loved attending their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s events. Dorothy enjoyed flower gardening, baking and cooking, while Wally enjoyed all sports, especially the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers. The couple were faithful members of Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo.
Survivors include five children, Delores (Steve) Kohler of Antigo, Eugene (Diane) Stefanski of Antigo, Cheryl (Lou) Suchon of Mosinee, Bonnie (Mark) Nieforth of Antigo and Nancy (Roger Nowitzke) Stefanski of Mosinee; 12 grandchildren, Alex, Fredrick, Clint, Brandon, Aaron, Kristin, Nicole, Katie, Andrea, Allison, Ted and Ryan and 14 great-grandchildren. Dorothy is also survived by two brothers, Eugene Zunker and Harry Zunker both of Weston.
Walter and Dorothy were preceded in death by their parents as well as Walter’s eight siblings, Lucy Sandquist, Genevieve Stefanski, Angeline Gunderson, Delores, Edward, Clem, Eugene and Roy Stefanski.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11AM on Wednesday November 22, 2017 at Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo. Rev. David Karolus will officiate. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Aniwa with military rites conducted by the Darling Gunderson American Legion Post #341. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 9AM until the time of service at the church.
Philip was a US Army Veteran and was a member of the Elderon Memorial Post #8068 VFW.
On May 30, 1959, Philip was united in marriage to Marian Laska at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Stevens Point. She survives.
Philip is survived by his wife, Marian Cherek; five children Valerie (David) Staszak of Weston, Joan (Dennis) Kleman and Janet Cherek both of Hatley, Rodney (Lori) Cherek of Madison and LeeAnn (Robert) Jorgenson of Minneapolis, MN; five granddaughters Tammy, Tina, Shelby, Brandi and Taylor; three great grandchildren Zain, Zaynah and Logan; four sisters-in-law Agnes Czudec of Stevens Point, Ceil Gorski of Plymouth, Lillian Laska of Rosholt and Helen Laska of Milwaukee and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Philip was preceded in death by two infant siblings.
