Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
George J. Vondrasek
Arrangements are pending at this time with Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel.
Vivian L. Ermeling
Vivian L. Ermeling passed away Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Golden Age Nursing Home in Tomahawk, WI at the age of 96.
The eldest of 11 children, born to Paul and Esther (Schmidt) Russ. On October 7, 1939 she was united in marriage to Oliver Ermeling. Vivian was a longtime resident of Rib Mountain where she worked for several businesses and a longtime member of Rib Mountain Lutheran Church. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Leslie, five brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include children Darlene (Ron) Eckes and Jerald (Sandra) Ermeling; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and one brother, James Russ.
A funeral service will be Wednesday, March 28 at 11am at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams Street Wausau with a visitation from 10am until the time of service.
Richard Hornung
Richard Hornung passed away at Benedictine Rehab Center on Friday, March 23, 2018, with his loving wife at his side.
He was born in Wisconsin Rapids to Clarence and Antoinette Hornung. Richard attended grade school at St. James in Wausau and then graduated from Wausau High School. After school he served in the United States Army in the Korean War with the military police. He was also a legionnaire for many years.
Richard married Lorraine Laska on a cold groundhog’s day on February 2, 1963 and together they had 55 years of marriage. They have two sons, Richard (Dawn) Hornung, Livermore, CA and Paul (special friend Lynette) Hornung of Phoenix.
He first worked for his father in well drilling and later with Miller Well and Pump until their closure. He then went to Layne Northwest in Wausau and retired as an industrial and municipal water well engineer, drilling some in Wausau and outlining cities.
Richard loved flowers and annually had a beautiful flower garden as well as a vegetable garden for 47 years, helping Lorraine with preparing for canning. He was also an excellent cook and prepared most of the food at their cottage. He and Lorraine played a game of cribbage almost daily.
Richard had a hobby of woodworking and could build anything very well. As well as their home and cottage, he made cabinets, desks, furniture, curved railings, porches, remodeled many basements and garages for friends, church, school and acquaintances, doing all this on weekends as he worked mostly out of town.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, brother, James (Janice) of Merrill and sister-in-law Geraldine. His brother Donald preceded him in death.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 5, 2018 at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. The Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
My Beloved Richard, I Love You. You have been a wonderful Husband.
Dorothy Pergolski
Dorothy A. Pergolski, 99, Wausau died Friday, March 23, 2018 at Rennes Rehab, Weston.
She was born June 22, 1918 in Wausau, daughter of the late John and Theodosia (Szachta) Borski.
In her earlier years Dorothy cleaned homes for many families in Wausau and later went on to work at Wisconsin Box and at Kraft Foods, both of Wausau. Some of her favorite pastimes included watching the Packers, Brewers, Tiger Woods play golf and the Bucks on television. While living at Sturgeon Eddy apartments she truly enjoyed her many friends and a good game of cards.
Survivors include her children, Karen (Russell) Schultz, Mosinee and Thomas (Sue) Pergolski, Wausau, her grandchildren, Scott Schultz, Tammy Szymanski, Kelly Wolslegel, Kim Pergolski, Josh (Leslei) Dickerson and Logan and Danielle Ballschmieder, 8 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by numerous brothers and sisters.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Wausau. Friends may call on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. A full obituary and online guestbook can be seen at www.petersonkraemer.com
Dorris Lee Doerres
Dorris and Jack moved to the Wausau area in the late 1950’s where they built a home on Lake Wausau and raised their family. Dorris enjoyed many outdoor sports including golf, skiing, and tennis. A gourmet cook, she loved entertaining. She was also an avid bridge player and participated in many civic activities and women’s clubs. Dorris served as Regent for the Wausau Chapter of the DAR for many years. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon. She was a passionate supporter of the arts and volunteered as a docent at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Her travels took her throughout the world.
Survivors include her two daughters, Dianne (Peter) Setness, Ramsey, MN, and Melinda (Bruce) Bartell, Mosinee; four grandchildren, David (Jess) Setness, Katy (Owen) Deneen, Emily (Aaron) Power, and Whitney Pentland; and three great-grandchildren, Samuel Deneen, Ruby Pentland, and Brooklynn Power.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church, Wausau. Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Private entombment will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, and again from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services at the church on Wednesday.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Dean Rein II
Dean John Rein II, 86, Wausau, died Friday, March 23, 2018 at Mount View Care Center under the care of Interim Hospice Care.
Dean was born June 27, 1931 in Wausau to the late Dean Arthur and Viola Gertrude (Boyack) Rein and grew up on the family farm. He is a 1949 graduate of Wausau High School and attended UW Marathon in Wausau from 1949-51 before being drafted to serve his country in the US Army. He served in an anti-aircraft artillery unit. Dean met the love of life, Frances Neubauer, while working at Sears and the couple was married on July 1, 1961. He worked at Sears for over 20 years, during which time he opened the Stoney Creek Rock and Gem Shop (1969-96) with Frances, became founding members of the Rib Mountain Gem and Mineral Society (1969-95) and served as a tax assessor for several townships in the Merrill area from 1979-2009. Dean and Frances celebrated 56 loving years together prior to her death on October 27, 2017.
He was a very hard working, loyal, generous and honest man who had a naturally inquisitive nature. Dean was instilled with these strong values while young and passed these on to his son. He also ran a sawmill and shingle mill and was a gifted woodworker and craftsman. In his free time, Dean enjoyed the solitude of the outdoors spending time logging, tapping maple trees, fishing and playing with his “Big Boy Toys” (tractors, backhoes and his mule). Dean also enjoyed traveling to Germany with Frances to visit her homeland and spent time reading historical texts about the old west and World War II.
Dean is survived by his son, Dean L. (Kathy) Rein III; grandson, Dean C. Rein IV; and extended family and friends.
Private services will be held for Dean, entombment will occur at Restlawn Mausoleum, Town of Texas. Helke Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Marathon County Humane Society (7001 Packer Drive, Wausau, WI 54401).
A word of thanks goes to Interim Home Care and Hospice Agency; the doctors, nurses and staff of the Aspirus Oncology department and the nurses and staff of Mount View Care Center for their care for Dean. Very special appreciation goes to Marcey Lewens who was a dedicated caregiver to both Dean and Frances.
Leah (Brehmer) Schuett
Leah Schuett was a very private person. Those that got to know Leah would soon realize her kind, generous and caring spirit. Leah was called to the Lord and Savior late Thursday March 22nd with her daughter Sara by her side. Leah 88, lost her battle to kidney disease under the care of the Aspirus Comfort Care at the Aspirus Hospice House.
She was born February 7, 1930 in Wausau to the late Adolph and Nina (Haertel) Brehmer. Leah is a 1948 graduate of Wausau High School and she continued her education at Luther Hospital School of Nursing in Eau Claire graduating in 1951 as a Registered Nurse. She married Paul Schuett on March 14, 1953 in Wausau; celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary earlier this month.
During her life, Leah worked as a nurse at Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital in Wausau before working through the Visiting Nurses Association. In the mid 60’s Leah embarked on her journey in retail. She joined her husband Paul, they owned and operated 3 successful clothing stores Lad & Lassie, Town & Country and West Park Fashions.
In 1989 Leah and Paul retired and started a new chapter in their life. They spent their summers in Minocqua and their winters in Florida. Leah enjoyed quilting, cooking, entertaining, golf and spending time with friends. Leah and Paul also enjoyed traveling around the US and Europe.
Throughout her life, Leah’s faith was of central importance. She has been a life-long member and ardently supported Zion Lutheran Church and while the couple lived in Minocqua, they were members of Ascension Lutheran Church.
Leah is survived by her beloved husband, Paul; daughter, Sara (Kenneth) Schuett-Hebein; and extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her siblings, David (Dorothy) Brehmer, Bernice Brehmer Hagegruber and Frank (Betty) Brehmer; step-brothers and step-sister, Edwin Brehmer, Edna Schroder, Wilber Brehmer, Clarence Brehmer; and all of the wonderful dogs that she had throughout life: Snoopy, Nikki and Princess.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 27 at Zion Lutheran Church, 709 N. 6th Street, Wausau. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the time of service at the church on Tuesday. The committal will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum at a later date. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Aspirus Health Foundation: Hospice Services (425 Pine Ridge Boulevard, Wausau, WI 54401).
A sincere word of appreciation goes to the nurses and staff of the Aspirus Hospice House for their compassionate care for Leah during the final days of her life.
Jerome B. Kufalk 79 passed away on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at his home after a short battle with brain cancer. He was born to the late Bernard and Marian (Nelson) Kufalk on December 15, 1938. Jerry graduated from Wausau High School in 1957. He married the love of his life Lois Barttelt on May 14, 1960, together they raised five children. He was a car salesman for most of his working life. Many of them were with Stark GM. After retirement, Jerry enjoyed working at the Chain O’Lakes Campground in Eagle River as the maintenance keeper. He loved to be outdoors, hunting, fishing, campfires and watching the deer. During the cold months Jerry and his wife Lois enjoyed their winter months traveling to the warm areas in their fifth wheel camper.
He is survived by his wife Lois, children, Linda (Pat) Nowak, Wausau, Lori (Gregg)Hepp, Wisconsin Rapids, Brian (Margaret) Kufalk, Kronenwetter, Bradley (Kimberli)Kufalk, Fallon, NV, and Jeffery (Jennifer) Kufalk, Altanta, GA, along with thirteen grandchildren and eleven great – grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ben and Marian, his in-laws Myron (Windy) and Rosemary Barttelt and sister-in-law Kathryn McCoy.Lois and family would like to thank the Aspirus Hospice Care, Dr. Kevin O’Connell, Nurse Jean (Beaner), Dr. Peterson, Dr. Waller, Dr. Barton and special friend Sue Blaine for all their loving care during his battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Matthew Catholic Church 229 S 28th Ave., Wausau with Rev. Robert C. Thorn officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00.
In lieu of flowers a donation will be made by the family to Aspirus Hospice Services.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com
