Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Herbert “Herbie” Riehle
Herbert (Herbie) John Riehle, 91, Athens died Friday, April 6, 2018 under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born May 21, 1926 in Athens, son of the late Peter and Elizabeth (Albrecht) Riehle. On August 4, 1956 he married Irene Dahl at the old St. Francis Catholic Church, Merrill. She survives.
Herbie attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Athens and was proud to be a lifelong resident of Athens. Herbie owned a Dairy Farm in Athens, worked at Fry Roofing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Janke Construction in Athens and also he worked at Buetsch Implement Marathon, WI until retirement 1988.
He enjoyed being a mechanic and helping out anyone who needed something fixed. He took pride in sharing his knowledge and sharing endless stories of his experiences, including owning his own service shop just outside of Athens in the 1950’s. He was a talented welder and one fond memory was when he climbed up into the steeple of St. Anthony’s Church in Athens, carrying his welding cord and he welded the bell. He also enjoyed many years of gardening including making homemade sauerkraut and horseradish, as well as making several kinds of homemade sausages and he has passed on these skills to his children.
Herbie proudly served his country in the United States Marines from 4/1/52-4/1/54 during the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife Irene, Athens; eight children; Shirley (Leon) Lewandowski, Portage, WI; Steven (Jean) Riehle, Merrill, WI; Scott Riehle, Weston, WI; Susan (John) Kamenick, Mosinee, WI; Sally Ziech, Reedsburg, WI; Stanley (Marcia) Riehle, Fenwood, WI; Stephen (Sara) Riehle, Wausau, WI; and Stacie Ziegel, Reedsburg, WI; 18 grandchildren, Mandy, Travis, Kelli, Christopher, Tyler, Ashley, Brandon, Brett, Brittney, Dylan, Melaney, Kaitlyn, Zachary, Madilyn, Lilyan, Courtney, Sami and Sophie; eight great grandchildren, and one sister Coletta Mader, Kronenwetter, WI.
Besides his parents he was proceeded in death by one daughter, Sherrie; brothers John and Arnold, and sisters Esther, Rita and Merceda.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15, 2018 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. The Rev. George Graham will preside. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Athens. Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Christina Walker
Christina A. Walker, 46, died Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
She was born July 19, 1971 in Broward County, Florida, daughter of John and Geraldine (Jones) Sams. On February 9, 2016 she married Jeffrey Walker in Wausau.
Survivors include her husband, Jeff Walker; Athens, son, Zav; parents, John and Gerry Sams, Ohio; siblings, William (Dana) Sams, John (Anne) Sams and Jennifer Bitler.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the Marathon funeral home.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Wesley J. Higgins
Wesley J. Higgins, 66, Marathon, died at home on Thursday April 5, 2018.
Wes was born Aug. 24, 1951 to the late Edward and Emily (Snopl) Higgins in Antigo, WI. He was raised on a dairy farm near Antigo, WI.
He attended Longfellow School, Pleasant View School and graduated from Antigo High School in 1969. While in high school he excelled in drafting and technical design. On Dec. 16, 1972 he married Kathleen Svoboda at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Phillips, WI. Wes and Kathy raised three children Brett, Travis and Jodie on a dairy farm outside of Merrill, WI. Wes and his brother Charlie started Higgins Construction in the late 70’s and built many dairy barns in the area. He later began his impressive career in the window industry at Wilke Windows in Antigo, WI. He moved to Wausau and joined the Engineering Department of Wausau Metals. He subsequently worked for a number of window manufacturers prior to branching out on his own in 1994 to found WJ Higgins and Associates, Inc. He grew the company from a one-man enterprise into a family business with Travis and Jodie. Over the years Wes became known internationally as an expert in the façade industry.
On October 4, 2003 Wes married Patricia Walbeck Jackson at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in the town of Stettin. Along with his wife, Patti, he built a beautiful farm outside of Marathon where he raised beef cattle, hogs and chickens and experimented with innovative farming methods like rotational grazing and no-till seeding. Wes was a steward of the land. Farming was his true passion and enjoyed having his children and grandchildren with him on the farm. He enjoyed spending his days outdoors and catching shows at the Guthrie Theater with various family and friends.
Wes was an extremely intelligent, creative, compassionate and caring man as anyone who met him knows. Wes will truly be missed by his family and friends. He touched so many lives in his short time on earth.
Survivors include his wife, Patti, Marathon; two sons, Brett (Jeannie), Merrill and Travis (Jennifer) Higgins, Weston; a daughter, Jodie (Marty) Rethaber, Merrill; a stepson, Nathan (Janelle) Jackson, Rothschild; a stepdaughter Jennifer (Jeffrey) Higgins, Pasadena, Maryland; grandchildren Kody, Tanner & Carla Higgins; Alexandra, Julia & Jacob Higgins; Nash Rethaber; step grandchildren, Grace & Tyler Jackson, Joy & Jackson Higgins; Four brothers, Warren (Brenda) Higgins, Alexandria, MN, Michael Higgins, Rothschild, Charles Higgins, Kiel, WI, Patrick (Elaine) Higgins, Antigo, and sister Margaret (John) Lund, Rhinelander; his first wife Kathleen Svoboda, Merrill; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Colleen Higgins.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday April 12, 2018 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, 1008 N. 120th Ave., Wausau. Rev. Philip Bogen will officiate. Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home 3400 Stewart Ave. Wausau and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Thursday.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Future Farmers of America (FFA) Programs in the Marathon, Merrill and D.C. Everest School Districts.
Donald D Mayer
Donald D. Mayer, 66, of Wausau, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2018 after a three-year war on cancer. Don was born September 1, 1951, to the late Arthur and Dorothy (Engebretson) Mayer of Junction City. He married Margaret Weiler on August 22, 1970, at St. James Catholic Church in Neshkoro, WI. He graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School Stevens Point, WI in 1969. He then attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point where he met his lovely wife. Don worked several different kinds of jobs from Insurance Salesman to Construction.He started a 38 year career at GB Vending in Wausau as a Route Man in 1976 working his way up to Service Manager and Route Supervisor at the time of his retirement in 2014.
Don is survived and greatly missed by his wife Margaret, “one perfect daughter” Jessica (Thad) Brockman, Weston, and two grandsons Nate and Colton. Don was the only son of Art and Dorothy. Don had 7 sisters one of whom was his favorite (you know who you are): Joyce (Dave) Facklam, Madison, Ruth (Terry) Morrow, Wausau, Nancy (James) Benner, Savannah, GA, Kathy (Rocky) Shadden, Vista, CA, Diane Williams, Stevens Point, Doris (Richard) Caldwell, Bonita, CA, and Jane (Tad) Vaughn, Dover, NH. He was a brother-in-Law to 12, uncle to 25 and great uncle to 24.
He was also proceeded in death by his sister Ruth.
Respecting Don’s wishes, there will be no funeral and the inurnment will be private. A private celebration of Don’s life will be held at a later date. Anyone who knew Don would know to wear a Hawaiian shirt and make sure to sing along to the Jimmy Buffett songs that will be playing in the background.
Don loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt and spend time up at Margaret and his land on Feeley Lake. He enjoyed the many deer camps with friends and family. He was also a sailing, golfing, biking and skiing enthusiast. Margaret and Don also took many awesome trips to exotic locations sometimes just the two of them and sometimes with the ‘gang.’ Above all, Don will be remembered for always being there when people needed help. No matter the situation, Don was always the first to help out anyone who asked.
Special thanks from our family to the caring medical staff at Marshfield Clinic Oncology center and St. Clare’s Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name can be sent to Samoset Council, Boys Scouts of America, in Weston, WI.
Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family with arrangements. To share memories and condolences, visit www.HonorOne.com
Jean N. Smiley passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the age of 89.
Jean was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, the only daughter of Annabelle and Edgar Nesbitt’s four children. She and William (Bill) A. Smiley II were married and both graduated from Grinnell College in 1950. The couple settled in Wausau where they had two sons.
Jean worked at the Wausau Public Library and pursued a Masters Degree in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.Jean was a voracious reader with a particular love of murder mysteries. She was an art lover and lifelong learner with a passion for politics and social justice. She loved travel and visited 122 countries during retirement. Her favorite occasions included taking trips with her children and grandchildren, in whom she inspired a love of travel.
Jean is survived by her husband of 67 years, Bill Smiley, former track and cross country coach and teacher at Wausau High School (later Wausau East High). She is also survived by their two sons, William A. Smiley III, Esq., of Portage, WI and E. Thomas (Tom) Smiley, Ph.D. (and daughter-in-law, Jan B. Smiley) of Fort Mill, SC; and by four grandchildren, including Bill’s son William A. (Will) Smiley IV, Ph.D, and JD. (Madhavi Devasher, Ph.D), of Dover, NH, and Bill’s daughter Mary Smiley Schoener (Ben Schoener, M.D.) of Fenton, MI; Tom and Jan’s daughter Emma J. Smiley, Esq., of Durham, NC, and their son Keith B. Smiley (Emily W. Smiley), of San Francisco, CA.
A memorial service will be held at the John Buettgen Funeral Home, 948 Grand Ave, Schofield, on May 5 from 10am to 1 pm.
Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com
Mike “MJ” Jackson
Mike “MJ” Jackson, age 54 of Marathon, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018 at the William S. Middleton Veteran’s Hospital in Madison, following multiple years of health struggles stemming from a heart transplant that he had 24 years ago.
He fought his battle so hard, but couldn’t beat this one.
He was born on January 3, 1964 in Wausau, the son of the late Gerald and Nancy (Burke) Jackson. He was a graduate of Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, class of 1983. He served his country in the US Navy from 1983-1987, where he was deployed on the USS Deyo to multiple Caribbean locations.
MJ was a jack of all trades, and took pride in every job he ever had. He easily made many life-long friends with his quick wit and great sense of humor, which he will always be remembered for.
Survivors include his sister, Kay (John) Balzano of San Antonio, TX; his maternal grandmother, Dorothy Burke of Chippewa Falls; niece, Miranda Jackson of Eau Claire; nephew, Jack Balzano, TX; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Jane Jackson, and brother, Dan Jackson.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Holy Family – St. William Catholic Church in Wittenberg, with visitation from 9 AM until the time of Mass. The Rev. David McElroy, O.Praem. will officiate. Military Honors will be conducted by the Bloecher-Johnson American Legion Post #502.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018 at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Boyd, WI.
The family would like to thank the staff of the William S. Middleton Veteran’s Hospital in Madison for the care that they gave to Mike.
Memories and condolences may be given at www.schmidtschulta.com or on Facebook at Schmidt & Schulta.
