Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Eldorn Heise
Eldorn D. Heise, 85, died Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
He was born June 12, 1932, in the town of Rib Falls, son of the late Paul and Martha (Baumann) Heise. On September 4, 1954, he married Arlyn Haehlke at Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens. She survives.
Eldorn was a dairy and ginseng farmer and enjoyed cutting hay on the family farm up until last fall. He enjoyed being outdoors, polka music, reading and was always interested in what was going on in all aspects of farming. Above all, Eldorn loved his family and his faith.
Survivors include his wife, Arlyn; daughter, Corrine Henricks and her sons, Paul (Danielle) and Matthew Henricks; daughter, Connie (Randall) Hamann and their sons, Tyler (Samantha) and Dayton (Kate Greskoviak) Hamann; son, Brian (Linda) Heise and their daughters, Amanda (Brett) Kage, Nicole (Hatembo) Chijoka and Brianna (Luke) Fitzsimmons, many other relatives and friends.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Mayward Heise.
Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018, at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Marathon. Rev. Jon Hadler will officiate. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, town of Rib Falls. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services, all at St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church, Marathon.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Jean Slominski
Jean Sharon Slominski, 83, Wausau, died Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at Mount View Care Center, Wausau.
Jean was born October 27, 1934, in Merrill to the late Ervin and Bertha (Burgener) Altenberger. She grew up on the family farm with three brothers and her sister. Jean met the love of her life, John Slominski, at the Lakeview Ballroom in 1950, and the couple was married on October 5, 1951, at the rectory at St. Anne’s. They were blessed with two daughters: Norma and Roxy. Jean worked for Marathon Electric for over 33 years as a motor winder and inspector before her retirement.
Jean was a devoted wife and wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She taught her children the value of working hard and was also known for being an excellent cook; specializing in soups, polish dumplings and her amazing cheesecakes. Jean was very active at St. Anne Parish helping to organize the Polka Fest, singing alto in the choir and helping with fish fry’s. She was also an accomplished archer and member of the Rib Mountain Bowmen participating in many tournaments. Jean enjoyed dancing the polka and waltz with John throughout their lives together. The couple also loved to spend time outdoors at the cottage in Woodruff and traveling to 38 states, Germany and Austria.
Jean is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, John; daughters, Norma (Wayne) Berens and Roxy Belgram-Betchwars; grandchildren, Bryan (Kim) Berens, Paul (Jodi) Berens, Keith (Brenda) Berens, Jamie Belgram, John (Cassandra) Belgram and Eric (Ginger) Belgram; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Harold Altenberger, Ervin (Barb) Altenberger and Jim (Frannie) Altenberger; and extended family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her great-granddaughter, Lily Raeann Belgram; sister, Joyce Lang and son-in-law, Thomas Betchwars.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at St. Anne Parish, Wausau. Fr. Alan Burkhardt will officiate. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until the time of service at the church on Wednesday. Entombment will be at Restlawn Mausoleum, Town of Texas. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Janice Koeppel
Janice “Jan” Louise Koeppel, 64, of Rothschild passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She was born on October 6, 1953, in Wausau, the daughter of the late Robert and Muriel (Smits) Wilson.
On August 28, 1976, she married Keith J. Koeppel at St. Anne Parish in Wausau. Jan was a woman of quiet strength, a keeper of peace and a gentle advisor. She lived for her husband and children. She loved selflessly. Any question, Jan knew the answer. Her wit, unrivaled. She found great joy in learning, reading and comforting others. Her accomplishments were boundless. By no means the most notable; after years of “Runner Up” in the Friends and Family March Madness Bracket she was finally victorious and took home the cheese. No pun intended. She is loved dearly by family and friends and her place in our hearts will always remain.
Survivors include her loving husband Keith, children, Austin and Hannah (Troy) Knox, granddaughter Gresham Knox, all of Rothschild; siblings, Frederick (Colleen) Wilson, Green Bay; Kathleen (William) Rust, White Bear Lake MN; Liz Veternick, Sherrillsford, NC; Maureen (Art) Dollase, Coon Rapids, MN; Helen (Tim) Canfield, St. Paul, MN; Bonnie (Daun) Korkow, North Las Vegas, NV; Victoria (Michael Swanson) Wilson, Seattle, WA; brother-in-law, Dick Gray, Athens, and several nieces and nephews. She was further preceded in death by a brother Brian Wilson, sister, Lynn Gray and brother-in-law, Ron Veternick.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at Church of Saint Anne, 700 West Bridge St., Wausau, with Rev. Nate Kuhn officiating. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Kronenwetter. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at church.
Joan Vyse
Joan Mae Vyse, 93, Wausau, died on Sunday, April 22, 2018, at The Bay at Colonial Manor in Wausau, with loving family by her side.
Joan was born January 11, 1925, in Swan River, Manitoba, Canada, to the late Arthur and Martha (Brooks) Borley. She married Charles M. Vyse on October 28, 1944, in Toronto, Canada. Joan and Charles celebrated 61 years together prior to his death on September 30, 2006. Joan was a very kind, and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Joan is survived by her loving children, Virginia (Logan) Sampson of Huntsville, AL, Laura (Erich) Bober of Wausau, WI, Janet (Kevin) Jahr of Bismarck, ND, Brenda (Joseph) Ricci of Wausau, WI, and Hughie (Kathy) Vyse of Romeoville, IL; 11 beloved grandchildren – Dawn, Jennifer, Brian, Cecelia, Katherine, David, April, Joseph, Charles, Eileen and Hughie, 12 loving great-grandchildren – Jessica, Ellen, Logan, John, James, Liam, Logan, Taylor, Jason, Ravijah, Dominic, and Geno, and many loving nieces and nephews. A private service will be held at a later date in Canada.
Joan was preceded in death by two grandsons, Logan Sampson and Justin McCarthy, and three brothers, Donald, Daniel and Jack Borley.
Sincere thanks goes to the nurses and staff of The Bay at Colonial Manor for their kind and generous care, and to Fr. Gregory Bohren from St. Agnes.
Marie Taylor
Marie S. Taylor, 86, of Merrill passed away on April 24, 2018, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born to the late Walter and Florence (McClanahan) Swearingin on February 13, 1932, in Nevada, Missouri. She married the love of her life Charles F. Taylor on May 19, 1950, in Monett, Missouri. He preceded her in death in 1988. Marie was a devoted wife to Charles, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, to her two fur buddy’s Asha and Amber, to her Methodist Church, and a poet. She also enjoyed crochet, and reading.
She wrote many poems in her day. Here are two verses from “Trust in Him,” “If the storms of life you fear, and the way seems dark and dear, that’s when God is always near, Trust in Him. Let God lead, what ere betide, hold his hand, walk by his side, in his love, you will abide, Trust in Him.”
She is survived by her good friend Joyce, her eldest daughter and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, of the Manchester and Wade families in the South, from Carolina to Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and her youngest daughter.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com.
Kenneth Hofmann
Kenneth C. Hofmann, 91, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, April 23, 2018, at home surrounded by his family. Kenneth was born on March 19, 1927, in Merrill to the late Fred and Hazel (Cooper) Hofmann. On Dec. 5, 1946, Kenneth married Grace L. Steffeck; she preceded him in death.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping, 4-wheeling, going to the shack and spending time with his family.
He is survived by four daughters and one son, all of Merrill: Lorene Hofmann, Rita (Ken) Woller, Ann Hofmann, Nancy Walsh and Randal Hofmann. He is further survived by seven grandchildren: Judy (Richard) Ryan, Linda (Louie) VanGroll, Paul (Pam) Schotz, Peter (Heather) Schotz, Lisa (Jeff) Brown, Wayne (Deb) Woller and Jacob Walsh; 17 great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Violet (Richard) Hahn, Gail Jahnke, Phyllis (Tom) Baumann.
He is preceded in death by his wife Grace, parents, a son Casey, granddaughter Amy Woller Dorgay, sister Vearl (William) Kleinschmidt, two brothers Leonard (Pearl) and Norman (Yvonne) Hofmann and a brother-in-law Jerald Jahnke.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018, at Bell Towers Chapel 1500 O’Day Street, Merrill. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 with Fr. Charlie Hoffman officiating.
Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com.
Kurt Malik
Kurt “Killer Kurt” Malik shifted into high gear and got ‘outta here, April 23, 2018. Not one to sit idle, Kurt spent much of his life as a true grease monkey; he also worked at a local radio station, 90FM. Here Kurt was known to fans & friends as “Killer Kurt Malik”. He spent Saturday nights spinning tracks and connecting with people through music and radio events. He had an ear for new and progressive, still had a love for the classics. Kurt was also active in “The World’s Largest Trivia Contest” held in Stevens Point. Seeing his collection of Trivia coffee mugs was quite impressive!
Cars (Chevy Proud!), race tracks, killer music, kind heart, giver, and incredible sense of humor, these are just a few of the things that we think of when we remember Kurt. Kurt’s passion for fixing things started when he was just a boy, watching his dad tinker with cars, tractors, or anything with an engine. It is said that he would run around with his “goddammit” (aka screwdriver) attempting to fix anything he could get his hands on, cracking it open to see how it works or fixing it if it was broken. In the ’90s, Kurt could be found at State Park Speedway, sometimes racing and often working in the pit. He enjoyed the smell of race fuel and the roar of engines on the track.
Although his laughter will no longer be heard, his tracks no longer played, and his hands no longer turning that wrench, may we be comforted by the memories we have of him. I picture him now, bent over the hood of a Monte Carlo SS, his Dad on the other side, both smiling.
Survivors include his mother, Darlene Malik – Ft. Meyers, FL; brothers, Jody (Polly) Malik – Capitola, CA, and Jess Malik – Ft. Meyers, FL; Children, Pam Satter, Jake Malik, Brandon Whalley; grandchildren, nieces, nephews and MANY friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Gerold Malik.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 28, at Two Sisters Chapel, 131 Steeple Road, Mosinee, WI. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 in the Chapel.
Family would like to give a special “thank you” to the staff at the Aspirus Hospice House for their wonderful care and compassion during Kurt’s last days.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Aspirus Hospice House at 530 N. 32nd Ave., Wausau, WI 54401.
Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com.
