Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Hilda L. Koenig
Hilda L. Koenig of Wausau, died on June 12, 2018 after 100 years of life filled with many blessings. Hilda was born on August 10, 1917 in the Town of Marathon to the late August and Adeline Beilke. She married Harold Koenig on October 23, 1947 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rib Mountain. He preceded her in death on July 31, 2015. Since 1955 she has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was an active volunteer at Trinity and also at Colonial Manor for many years.
Mom loved knitting, sewing, listening to music and walking in the neighborhood under the full moon. Her door was always open and friends and family stopped by daily for a slice of homemade bread, bowl of chicken noodle soup or a slice of homemade pie. When she was not in the kitchen, she could be found sitting on her porch swing in the backyard or playing sheephead with her grandchildren Matt and Amy.
Survivors include daughters Sandy (Jim) Pauls, Linda (Scott) Kremer Koenig, grandchildren Matthew Pauls (Becky Bergs), Amy Pauls, and great grandchildren Ruby and Lily Pauls. Hilda was preceded in death by her brothers, Martin, Arnold, Ervin and Harold. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on Monday June 18, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave, Wausau, visitation from 10:00 until the time of services at the church, with a luncheon following the service. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park.
The family would like to thank the caring staff, both past and present, of Mountain Terrace Senior Living who were like a second family to Mom for the last three years and also the Aspirus Hospice team who helped Mom during the last few weeks of her life. We are grateful for the many neighbors and friends that were so important to her throughout her life.
Maxine Hernandez
Maxine “Mickey” Hernandez, 92, Merrill, was born April 9, 1926 in Osage, IA passed away peacefully on June 13, 2018 at Pine Crest Nursing Home.
Mickey is survived by her children, Gary Hernandez, Bill (Kris) Hernandez, Paula (Don) Oestreich and Hector (Tammy Gardner) Vonheeder; grandchildren, Amy (Rod), Tony (Natalie), Betsy, Melody, Ben, Hanna, Jackie (Peter), Anna, Sam and Maggie; great-grandchildren, Jake, Max, Ayla, Basil, Xaviar, Nigel, Easton and Lily. She was preceded in death by Louis Hernandez and Red Dallke; daughter, Pam Craner; and granddaughter, Tabatha.
A private service was held for Mickey. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
James Berndt
James Berndt went home to be with his Savior on June 4, 2018 after 85 years of life.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent his working years as an auditor with Travelers Insurance Company and Wausau Insurance Company.
He leaves a wife of 59 years, Blanche, of Wausau; a son, Reed (Katherine) and 3 grandchildren, James, Kyle and Grace, all of Colorado.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 23, 3pm at Wausau Alliance Church, with visitation before the service from 2:30-3:00pm.
Barbara A. Zyduck
Barbara A. Zyduck, 76, Weston, died Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at UW Hospital, Madison.
She was born January 31, 1942 in Wausau, daughter of the late Clarence and Dorothy (Hertz) Burish. Barbara grew up in Edgar and graduated from Edgar High School. She met her future husband, Ronald Zyduck, on a blind date and on August 19, 1961 they were married at St. John Catholic Church, Edgar.
Among her favorite pastimes, she enjoyed crafts, sewing, fishing, playing cards, and most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her loving husband of 57 years, Ronald Zyduck, Weston; three children, Joe Zyduck, Wausau, Jim (Deb) Zyduck, River Falls and Rhonda Zyduck, Wausau; three grandchildren, Riley and Logan Zyduck and Paige Blaschka; two sisters, Mary (Joseph) Schwabe, Stratford and Pat (Jerry) Beidel, Medford; one brother, Chuck Burish, Arizona; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at St. Therese Catholic Church, Rothschild. Rev. Louis Britto will preside. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services 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
Ethel M. Niewolny
Ethel M. Niewolny, 87, died Monday, June 11, 2018 at Mount View Care Center, Wausau.
She was born July 21, 1930 in Athens, daughter of the late Reinhard and Mary (Sompel) Schultheiss. On April 10, 1948 she married Clarence Niewolny at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Milan. He preceded her in death on October 29, 2004.
She worked as manager of the rating department for Wausau Insurance for 22 years and also in the hot lunch program at St. Matthew School.
Survivors include her children, Perry (Ann) Niewolny, Oshkosh and Debra Callahan, Wausau; grandchildren, Jon (Kelly) Niewolny, Lisa (Mort) Newcomb, Jennifer, Shannon and Sean Callahan; great-grandchildren, Lauren and Bria Niewolny and Austin Newcomb; sisters-in-law, Pat Schultheiss and Imogene Niewolny, both of Wausau.
Besides her parents, siblings and husband, Clarence, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Bonnie Niewolny.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2018 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Robert Thorn will preside. Entombment will be in the Garden of Eternal Rest, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Thomas Thoma
Thomas O. (Tom) Thoma, 76 passed away on June 12, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Tom was born on March 26, 1942 in Neillsville, WI to the late Irvin and Lila (Kalkofen) Thoma. He graduated from Lincoln High School Wisconsin Rapids. On June 13, 1981 he married Connie (Kasmerchak) Hahn at Salem Lutheran Church, Wausau. Connie passed away June 22, 2009.
Tom owned and operated T Mart Supermarket. He enjoyed watching the news of any sort, watching race cars, hunting with his boys and grandsons, taking his annual fishing trip to Star Lake with his daughter, sons and grandsons, traveling and going to Elk functions with Kay. He mostly loved spending time with his friends and family.
Survivors include his fiance’ Kay Machyanak, Kronenwetter, WI; Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren: Tim (Julie) Thoma and their children Zach and Zoe, Victoria, MN, Scott (Stephanie) Thoma and their children Abby and Sam, Mound, MN, Tammy Thoma, Minneapolis, MN, Tom (Ruby) Thoma, Hatley and their children Jake (Amanda) Thoma and their children Tucker and Mia, Wausau, Justin (Brianna Ullenbrauck) Thoma, Wausau, Steve (Nichol) Thoma and their children Gracie, Isabelle and Ella, Shakopee, MN; Siblings, Bob Thoma, Bill Thoma, Pat Gansch and Sue (Dave) Bittner.
He was preceded in death by his parents Irvin and Lila Thoma; his wife, Connie Thoma; brother-in-law Don Gansch, and sister-in-law Sue Marie Thoma.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday June 16, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church-LCMS 1300 Townline Rd., Wausau. Rev. David Wetmore will officiate. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau is in charge of the arrangements.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff and doctors and Aspirus Wausau Hospital for all their compassion and care.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Virginia Szuminski
Virginia Szuminski, 78, Marathon, died Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
She was born in the Town of Cassel on October 1, 1939 to the late Frank and Helen (Gajewski) Szuminski. She went to work at Marathon Cheese in 1958 and worked there until her retirement. In her free time, Virginia loved spending time outside, especially working in her garden.
Survivors include her sister Jolanta (Frank) Jagodzinski, Edgar, her brother Sylvan (Gloria) Szuminski, Richfield, and nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her brothers Clarence, John and Edwin and sister-in-law Joyce Szuminski.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday June 16, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cassel. Rev. Felix Tigoy will preside. Burial will be in the Parish cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com. Memorials may directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in lieu of flowers.
Joseph “Pauly” Orlikowski
Joseph Paul Orlikowski, also known as “Pauly” by his relatives and friends went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Pauly was born May 31, 1956 at Memorial Hospital in Medford, son of the late Walter Sr. and Frances (Sekorski) Orlikowski. Pauly graduated from Athens High School in 1975 and went to work at the F.B.I., Fromm Brothers Incorporated in Hamburg from 1975 until 1986 working in the ginseng fields and feeding fox. In 1987 he went to work for Menzner Lumber in Marathon and on June 1, 2018 he had 31 years of working there. In his 31 years he never missed a day of work except when he had heart surgery in August of 2001. Pauly was planning on retiring at the end of this year.
Pauly loved deer hunting, especially bow hunting and going to rodeos and car shows. He was a very religious person and never missed Mass if he wasn’t at 4:00 Mass on Saturday he would be at 9:30 Mass on Sunday. He was an avid Packer fan and Brewers fan. Some of his other hobbies included growing tomatoes, potatoes, onions and cucumbers, watching westerns on TV and reading the sports page in the newspaper.
Pauly enjoyed socializing with a couple of beers and going out to eat at Curtiss Travel Center.
Survivors include his brother, Walter Jr. “Wally” Orlikowski, many cousins and close friends.
“I not only lost my brother but I lost my best friend, we did everything together. Pauly was the best brother I could have and I’m going to miss him very much. I would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Aspirus Wausau Hospital for trying to save my brother, you did your best.” Wally Orlikowski
The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2018 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. Rev. George Graham will preside. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Athens. Visitation will be tonight, Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens and again on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.
Online condolence may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Kay M. Perkins passed away on June 12, 2018 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau. She was born on April 2, 1954, in Medford WI. She received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics and her master’s degree in food science and nutrition from UW-Stout.
She married Lewis Perkins on September 17, 1983. She worked as a WIC Director for 40 years. She also did volunteer work with Marathon County Hunger Coalition, United Way, and the Community Garden. Kay enjoyed gardening, baking, reading, and doing crafts.
She is survived by her husband Lewis, siblings Thomas Daniels (Anita) and Donna Daniels-Reed, stepchildren Scott Perkins, Sarah Maciaz (Ken), and Shelley Wucherer (Ryan), grandchildren Liz, Peri, Madi, Ben, and Duke, niece Danielle, nephew Jeff (Vicki), great niece Holly and great nephew Lukas.
She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Evelyn Daniels.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 17, at John J Buettgen Funeral Home 948 Grand Ave, Schofield from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
A funeral service will be held at John J Buettgen Funeral Home on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m with a one hour visitation prior.
Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com
Lorraine Katherine Russ, 89, left loving family at her bedside to be with our heavenly father on June 11, 2018. Lorraine was born to John and Katherine Werba on November 21, 1928. She married Dwayne Russ on February 3, 1951, in Schofield, where they lived as husband and wife for 63 years until Dwayne’s passing in 2014.
Lorraine loved the home and north woods cabin she and Dwayne built together by hand. For many years she enjoyed doing volunteer work at the hospital gift shop, was a hospice volunteer, and a dedicated church member her entire life. Lorraine enjoyed sewing, gardening and cooking for her family of eight children, and had a special talent for baking treats that will be remembered for decades to come. A loyal sports fan, Lorraine would sit through rain and cold if her grandchildren were on the team. In her later years, Loraine’s friends grew in importance, especially her exercise companions.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dwayne, her son, Thomas Russ, and daughter, Karen Cooper.
Survivors include five daughters: Maxine Hunt, Sally Osburn, Cynthia Plautz, Peggy Hettinga, and Donna Thut, plus one son: Timothy Russ, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A special thanks to the palliative care staff at Aspirus Hospital who made Mom’s last days comfortable and dignified.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00amat the Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, 4710 N Troy Street in Wausau, with visitation from 9:00am to 10:00am.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com
