Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Dennis Maxson
Dennis Floyd Maxson, 83, died peacefully on June 4, 2018, at Tender Reflections, Weston, Wisconsin.
Dennis was born on Oct. 31, 1934, in Rugby, North Dakota, to Audrey and Floyd Maxson. He attended school in Fargo, North Dakota, where he played basketball and baseball with his childhood friend, Roger Maris. Dennis moved to Willmar, Minnesota, in high school with his mother and stepfather, Harvey Aistrup. He met his wife-to-be, Sallie Irene Rose, at Willmar High School.
Dennis enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, before being deployed as Specialist Third Class, 32nd Infantry, 7th Infantry Division Korea during the Korean Conflict. He and Sallie married at Fort Riley, Kansas, on Nove. 25, 1953. After active duty he attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, where he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He started his career as a salesman for Hallmark Cards and moved to Wausau, Wisconsin.
In the mid-1960s, Dennis began working for Wisconsin Box Company, where he worked as sales manager until his retirement in 1999. Dennis was very active in the Wausau community. He was one of the founding members of the Wausau Breakfast Optimist Club, served on the City Council as Alderman from 1970-1972, and was a member of First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years where he served in a number of capacities including elder, deacon and usher. He also volunteered for many other Wausau groups and activities throughout his life. After his retirement from Wisconsin Box Company, Dennis worked part-time at Trig’s grocery store until 2013 where he was known by Trig’s customers for his friendliness and hugs.
Dennis and Sallie had four children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many dear friends whom they considered family. Throughout his life and even throughout his illness, he always had a smile and a hug to greet others, a whistle or a song in his step, a bad pun or joke to make others laugh, a generous spirit, and an adoration for children.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Sallie (2007). Dennis is survived by his sister Patricia Gilbertson, Wayzata, Minnesota, and children Stephanie (Mike) Secrest, Burnsville, Minnesota, Scott (Toni) Maxson, Las Vegas, Nevada, Sherri (Jeff) Goodlove, Elgin, Illinois, and Jeff (Jeanene) Maxson, Rochester, Minnesota, and grandchildren Marissa Secrest, Jarod Maxson, Samantha Smoll, Tammy Maxson Davis, Jessie Maxson Gums, Emily McClennahan and Zachary McClennahan.
Memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, June 30, at the First Presbyterian Church, 406 E. Grant St,, Wausau. The Reverend Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. Committal will be at Restlawn Memorial Park with military rites to be rendered by representatives of the US Army and VFW Burns Post #388. Brainard Funeral Home will be assisting with the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter. The family wishes to thank the doctors, especially Dr. Mark Richetto and his staff, the staff at Tender Reflections and Ministry Health Care Hospice for the loving care and support throughout their father’s illness and final days.
Mary Stone
Mary Fink Stone, 83, of Metamora, Illinois, celebrated her first “Heavenly Birthday” on May 1, 2018. Mary’s husband, George Leach Stone, preceded her in death just one month shy of their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. Mary’s parents (A.O. Fink and Violet Fink) are also deceased.
Mary is survived by her daughters Jennifer (Jim) Tallman of Washington, Illinois, and Lizbeth “Liz” (M. E. Delano) Stone of Louisville, Kentucky. Mary loved her brother, John (Lynn) Fink, of Prescott, Arizona, and considered her cousin, Suzie Bush (Racine, Wisconsin), as a sister. Mary will also be missed dearly by many family members and friends.
Mary was born and raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh where she obtained a degree in primary education and met her “one and only” George. Mary loved teaching kindergarten in Neenah, Wisconsin, where she was known as “Miss Pink”. Mary and George and their family lived in many locations, including Monrovia, California, Wausau, Wisconsin, Wayne, Pennsylvania, and Washington, Illinois. No matter where they put down roots, Mary devoted her mind and heart to volunteer work and faithful dedication to helping others in need.
Mary once wrote that her two proudest accomplishments were her two “precious daughters,” Liz and Jen. While living at Snyder Village, Mary and her daughter Jennifer helped establish a monthly gathering for fellow residents called “Snackin’ with Mary.” She often wore her unique sweaters to these gatherings and loved to bring happiness to others. In addition, she loved to visit Liz in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mary spent a great deal of time ensuring that young people have opportunities to develop their talents in music. She loved to attend the local high school band concerts with her family and was a board member of the Wausau Conservatory of Music. One of Mary’s proudest moments came when the Wausau Conservatory’s Volunteer of the Year Award was established in her name.
Mary loved to travel, entertain and support groups that helped others. She supported The Women’s Community in Wausau and was a member of Job’s Daughters, White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Junior League and Alpha Kappa Sorority. She was also active in the Presbyterian Church and made favors for the Friends Thanksgiving Dinner for 30 years in Wausau!
Guests may go to brainardfuneral.com to share condolences. A memorial service will take place on June 27, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Wausau, Wisconsin, followed by a reception at the church. A private burial will take place the next day at Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to support the Wausau Conservatory of Music, as well as The Women’s Community in Wausau.
Happy “Heavenly Birthday” to you… Mary… Mom… Faithful Servant! The Earthly world is a better place because of you!
Joseph Scheithauer
Joseph E. Scheithauer, 90, Athens died Sunday, June 17, 2018, at his home while under the care of Hope Hospice and Palliative Care.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens. The Rev. Mark Schwalenberg will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Grafton. Friends may call on Saturday from 11 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.
Dorothy Traverse
Dorothy L. (Dori) Traverse, nee’ Muller, 98, of Wausau, Wisconsin, (formerly of Kentwood, Michigan) went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 13, 2018.
Dorothy was born June 11, 1920, to the late Henri and Lina (Biber) Muller of Toronto, Canada. Dori grew up in Toronto, graduated from Malvern Collegiate Institute, (lower, middle and upper levels), and from Weller College with a diploma in secretarial studies.
Dorothy met Duane Traverse from Constantine, Michigan, in Washington, D.C., while visiting friends in the area. Married in 1954, they first resided in Lansing, Michigan, and then in Grand Rapids. Health reasons forced a move from Kentwood, Michigan, to Wausau, Wisconsin, in late 2016 where Dorothy lived with their daughter Valerie Buch and family.
Dori first worked as an executive secretary for Charters Publishing and then The University of Toronto, Dept. of Epidemiology. After marriage, she worked for Michigan State College, Dept. of Economics.
Dori devoted her life to her family; staying home after the birth of their first child. She was a room mother at the elementary school, and supported the music, scouting and sporting events her children and grandchildren were involved in. She enjoyed fine dining, travelogues and musical performances. She loved to see marching bands. She excelled in all areas of homemaking especially cooking, baking and sewing. Dori was still trying new recipes well into her 90s. She truly was a Proverbs 31 Woman!
After Duane’s retirement they were able to travel to the coasts of both the U.S. and Canada, to the British Isles and to visit family in France and Switzerland. Dori received much pleasure from being with her entire family. She doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She never wanted to forget a special event in their lives. She is well known for the cards and letters she wrote to all. In later years as her eyesight failed, she remembered them with phone calls. Dori made sure that all family events were catalogued through photos and then made albums to remember the family times.
Dori was preceded in death by her husband Duane A. Traverse in May 2018, her parents; three sisters: Alice (Jair) Hall, Miriam (Gordon) Stanley, Marguerite (Murray) Lynn and one brother Walter (Pat) Muller.
Dori is survived by her children Ross (Diane) Traverse, Middleville, Michigan, Valerie (Paul) Buch, Wausau, Wisconsin, and Neil (Linda) Traverse, Colgate, Wisconsin; her grandchildren Laura Jennings, Jeremy (Annie) Traverse, Josh (Anna) Traverse, Kaitlin (Nick) Tomkins, Hallie Traverse, Mia Traverse, Matthew Buch and Bethany (Nate) Hettinga; and great-grandchildren Lily, Chavah, Ezra and Matthias Traverse.
Visitation for friends in the Wausau area will be at Helke Funeral Home (Wausau) on Friday, June 22, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visitations will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 .m. on June 29, 2018, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday, at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Graveside services will be held at Pine Hill Cemetery (Kentwood) following the service.
Donations in memory of Dorothy may be sent to Beacon Bible Camp (Torrance, Ontario, Canada https://beaconbiblecamp.com/donate/) or to St. Jude’s Hospital.
Mom, your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.
Dorothy Traeger
Dorothy Alice Traeger, 96, of Wausau passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at Our House Senior Living, Wausau, with her sister at her side. She was born July 14, 1921, in Eland, the daughter of the late Charles and Elda (Tietz) Westfahl. On July 21, 1945, she married Robert Traeger at her parents’ home in Eland.
Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother, always taking care of her family’s needs first. When her children where grown and out of the house she went back to work as an administrative assistant for the engineering department at Drott Manufacturing, Wausau, until her retirement in 1985. That year, she started volunteering at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and logged over 24,000 hours for over 30 years.
Dorothy had a strong faith in God and was a member of Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Wausau. Over the years, she was active serving on the church council, singing in the choir and helping with the Women of St. Stephen.
Survivors include daughters, Jacqueline (Joel) Hamers, Crown Point, Indiana; Debra (Thomas) Ralph, Wausau; grandsons, Robert (Lydia Murphy- Ralph) Ralph, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Andrew (Allie Holdmann) Ralph, Eau Claire and her sister Aletha Westfahl, Wausau.
Dorothy was further preceded in death by her husband Robert and two brothers, Raland and Ervin Westfahl.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday June 23, 2018, at Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, 512 McClellan St. Wausau. Reverend Jen Dahle will officiate. Visitation will be at church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau, following funeral service.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Our House for the exceptional care given to Dorothy.
Timothy Arrowood
Timothy Allen Arrowood, 43, of Wausau, was taken to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 17, 2018. He was the son of Virgil and Judy (Igl) Arrowood of Wausau.
Tim touched the lives of many people and was loved by everyone who knew him. His beautiful blue eyes and contagious laugh lifted the spirits of all those around him. He was a joy to be around.
The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, teachers, teacher’s aides, bus drivers, social workers, caregivers, neighbors, and everyone at the North Central Adult Day Services program for the care and concern that was shown to him over the years.
We are forever grateful for the wonderful owners and staff at the Circle of Love Adult Family Home for all the love and special care they gave him for the past 13 years – especially the past three and a half years when that was his permanent home.
Survivors include his parents, Virgil and Judy Arrowood, Wausau, Wisconsin; brother, Jeffrey (Jodi) Arrowood, Somerset, Wisconsin; two sisters, Debra Arrowood, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Linda Arrowood, Evansville, Wisconsin; and niece and nephew, Rachel and Dominic Arrowood, Somerset, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents; three aunts; three uncles; and two cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 25, 2018, at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1104 South Ninth Ave., Wausau, with Father Peter Kieffer officiating. Family and friends may call beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Entombment will be in Holy Angels Mausoleum at St. Michael Cemetery, Wausau.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
Nancy Thiele
Nancy A. Thiele 80, was called by the Lord to her heavenly home in the early morning of June 17, 2018. Leaving us quietly bringing to a close the earthly portion of her life at the age of 80 years, eight months and five days.
She was born to the late Harvey and Pearl (Helke) Luetschwager in Wausau, Wisconsin, on Oct. 12, 1937. She became a child of God through Holy Baptism on Dec. 12, 1937. She was confirmed on March 18, 1951. She married Gerald F. Thiele on Aug. 4, 1956, in Wabasha, Minnesota. He preceded her in death on July 28, 1999.
Nancy grew up on a dairy farm just east of Wausau. From an early age, she was an active participant in the daily chores along with her sister and brothers. She was a graduate of D.C. Everest High School. She went on to work in banking for more than 20 years. After her retirement, she worked at Wausau Family Practice which was associated with the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Nancy was an active member of St. Peters Lutheran Church and volunteered to serve with the Ladies Aid group helping with many luncheons and other functions. Nancy was famous for her bars and other sweet treats.
Nancy enjoyed spending time with her extended family, especially the grand and great-grand babies and kids. Her passions included, sewing, holiday baking, puzzles and taking very particular care of the family cottage, “Up North,” with her own special style.
With the anticipated joy of the promised reunion in heaven, Nancy leaves behind her sister, Marlyce (Jerome) Lillie, Weston, daughters, Deborah Osowski, Mosinee, Lynn (William Bogenhagen) Thiele, Middleton, and a son Scott (Lori) Thiele, Weston. Three grandchildren, Rachel (Hubble) Manley, Mosinee, Jordan (Haley Holewinski) Thiele, Wausau, and Austen Thiele, Madison as well as six great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald, two brothers, James and Harvey Jr. Luetschwager and granddaughter Rhiannon (Osowski) Wiesman. Nancy will be deeply missed by all whose lives she has touched.
Visitation and funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1351 Grand Ave., Schofield. Pastor Walter Davidson officiated.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be made at www.HonorOne.com.
Vernon Matsche
