Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Ray Meier
Ray A. Meier, 99, Schofield (formerly of Brookfield), died Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
He was born May 17, 1919, in Milwaukee, son of the late Arthur and Catherine (Beiberger) Meier. On Sept. 28, 1946, he married Dorothea C. Oelke at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and celebrated 70 years of marriage before her death in 2016. Ray received his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in electrical engineering. He worked for AO Smith as manager of production control. He also served in the United States Navy during World War II. The minesweeper he was stationed on was the only one of five that made it back to the port during a September 1945 typhoon.
Ray was a standout husband, father and grandfather. His intelligence was exemplary along with his ability to retain all that he read. He was a sharp and avid reader who could always be found with a book in his hands!
Ray shared a special connection with the Northwoods with his family, traveling to Boulder Junction for countless family trips. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He shared his love for the outdoors with his wife and children, teaching them the beauty and simplicity of nature. Even at 99 you would find Ray sitting out on the deck all day long.
He is survived by his children, Janet Steffen-Meier of Merrill, James (Patricia) Meier of Racine, and Jean (Brian Zblewski) Kopplin-Meier; grandchildren, William (Feyza Sancar) Turinske, Christopher Meier, Steven Kopplin, and Nicole Kopplin; and great-grandchildren, Aydin Turinske and Cayden Sirny-Kopplin. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother William.
A private family remembrance with military honors will be held at a later date.
The family would like to share a very special thank you to Ray’s caregivers and the palliative care staff at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and most especially to Jean, Steven and Brian for the devoted and extraordinary care of Ray and Dorothea.
As an expression of sympathy, Ray’s family asks that you plant or donate a tree in his honor and memory as a living tribute — www.alivingtribute.org/.
Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Ronald Keberle
The Honorable Ronald D. Keberle, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 22, 2018, in Wausau, Wisconsin.
He was born in Milwaukee on Septe. 2, 1927, to Frank and Gladys Keberle. Ronald graduated from Milwaukee’s Rufus King High School in 1945 as valedictorian. After being discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1947, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Anderson in 1948. Subsequently, he attended law school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he graduated with honors in 1951 and was selected for the Order of the Coif. Ronald and Shirley then moved to Wausau, where Ronald began his law practice with Robert W. Monk Sr. He became assistant city attorney in 1953 and in 1955 was elected district attorney for Marathon County, a position he held for seven years. In 1957, he was honored as the “Outstanding Young Man” in Wausau and in 1958 was selected as one of five “Outstanding Young Men” for the State of Wisconsin.
In 1962, Ronald was elected county judge for the newly created Branch II of Marathon County, where he served until his election to the circuit court in 1970. In 1978, he was appointed by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Beilfuss as chief judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit and served in that capacity until 1983. As circuit court judge, he presided over cases in Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas counties for 18 years until his retirement on July 28, 1988. He then continued to work as a reserve judge until 2000. During his 38 years on the bench, he also served on the Wisconsin Council of Criminal Justice, the Wisconsin Criminal Jury Instruction Committee and graduated from the National College of State Trial Judges.
Ronald was also very active in service to his community, having served as the president of the Wausau Jaycees, president of the Marathon County Cancer Association and board member of the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce and the Woodson YMCA.
Ron’s passions in life were walleye fishing, watching the Packers, reading novels, attending his sons’ and grandchildren’s musical and sporting events and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of 70 years, three sons, David (Branford, Connecticut), Daniel (Spokane, Washington), Douglas (West Bend, Wisconsin), seven grandchildren and four great-grand children. A private family service is being held in his memory.
Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be shared online at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Margaret Wolfe
Margaret (Marge) G. Wolfe, 91, Wausau, passed away Friday, June 22, 2018, the day she knew she would meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, while surrounded by her loving family.
She was born April 15, 1927, in Wausau, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late Elmer and Emma Rainville. On Aug. 23, 1947, she married Russell Wolfe at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Wausau.
Marge worked at St. Mary’s Rectory and School, Marathon Battery, as well as Shopko, where she was known as “the candy lady.” In fact, Marge would pass out LifeSavers to anyone she would meet.
Among her many interests, she enjoyed cooking, watching cooking shows and collecting cookbooks; as well as playing Skipbo, crossword puzzles, playing card games and drawing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling up north to Three Lakes and spending time with her family. Marge was an avid Packers fan. She was a very patriotic American, serving as a long-standing member of the VFW Women’s Auxillary, Post 388.
She will be missed greatly by her family and all who knew her. Her family will also dearly miss her phone calls to sing “Happy Birthday” to them on their birthdays.
Survivors include her five children; Sandi (Rick) Thiel, Rick (Mary) Wolfe, Charles (Mary) Wolfe, Geraldine (Dennis) Erickson, and Randy (Tammy) Wolfe, all of Wausau; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; one surviving sister, Joan Harter of Wausau; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; her sisters, Marion Newell and Elizabeth Rohmeyer; and brothers Anthony, Elmer, Jerome, Jerry, Charles and Lloyd Rainville; and one granddaughter, Jody Thiel.
A Memorial Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2018, at Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel, 522 Adams St. The Rev. Bill Grevatch will preside. Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Private burial will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park.
A special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Aspirus Palliative Care Unit (Patty and Hannah), as well as Natalie, a wonderful, caring nurse in the intermediate care unit.
Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Randolph Seidens
Randolph K. Seidens, 89, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2018, at Rennes in Weston.
He was born to the late Rudolph and Margaret (Anderson) on April 24, 1929. He served proudly in the United States Army and was a Korean War veteran. He re-enlisted into the National Guard and was employed as a General Mechanic with HQ Company, 632nd Armor Battalion Wisconsin Army National Guard in Wausau until his retirement in 1984.
He also drove bus for many years for the Wausau Story Drum & Bugle Corp. He loved traveling with his wife, Florence, and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Florence G. (Sulla), daughter April (Doug) Severude, Chetek, Wisconsin, son Douglas, Weston, Wisconsin, daughter-in-law Theresa (Hewett), Wylie, Texas, six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, and many other relatives.
He is preceded in death by his son Keith, and brothers Wayne and Kenneth.
Services will be held on Monday, July 2, 2018, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 503 Schmidt Ave., Rothschild, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 10:30 am. until time of service at 11:30 a.m., with full military honors performed by the American Legion Post 10.
Committal will be at a later date at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences can be done at www.HonorOne.com.
