Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Ty Becker
Ty A. Becker, 55, of Wausau went to be with his Lord, on July 1, 2018.
Ty was born on Dec. 2, 1962, to Gene and Phyllis (Rohrbach) Becker, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He married Lisa Paul on April 16, 1988, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She survives.
Ty began his career as an educator teaching in South Dakota and brought his family to Wisconsin when he accepted a job as the assistant principal for Wausau East High School. He later achieved his dream by becoming the principal for Horace Mann Middle School. Ty was well known throughout Wausau as the “Voice of the Lumberjacks” and he was very active in organizations at the school, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and youth coaching. Ty was a devoted Christian who was heavily involved in his church; his faith in the Lord was very important to him. Ty was a dedicated family man who saw the value in public education. Some of the activities that gave him the greatest sense of pride were coaching and watching his boys participate in school activities and sports. He was known for keeping an impeccable lawn and relaxing with a Diet Mountain Dew.
Besides his wife Lisa, Ty is survived by his three sons; Brady, Brennen and Alex Becker; his mother, Phyllis Becker; brother, Tory Becker; sister, Karla (Christopher) McIntosh; and four nephews, Noah, Logan, Aaron and Alan. Ty was preceded in death by his father, Gene Becker.
A gathering of family and friends will take place to celebrate Ty’s life on July 6, 2018, at Brainard Funeral Home, Wausau, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Brainard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.brainardfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the family, where at a later date a memorial will be established in Ty’s name for the Wausau School District.
John Fehl
On June 29, 2018, John A. Fehl, 70, of Wausau went to his new residence for all eternity in the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ.
John was born March 2, 1948, in Wausau to the late John and Verna Fehl. He graduated from Wausau High School in 1966 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force the following year. In 1968, John married his high school sweetheart, Mary (Geske) Fehl, with whom he recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1971, they moved back to the Wausau area. Upon graduating from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in business, John began working for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio. In 1977, he continued his career in the insurance industry as an underwriter with Church Mutual Insurance in Merrill. In his 34 years at Church Mutual, John was promoted numerous times until his retirement in 2011 as line services manager.
A favorite hobby of his was woodworking in his shop while listening to big band music from the 30s and 40s. John created many original pieces with a craftsman’s touch, as well as refinishing other pieces. He was an active member of Highland Community Church and enjoyed the friendships made there. For many years John and Mary participated in a small group Bible study in the home of dear friends. We would often hear John described by others as being a “kind” man.
John dearly loved and appreciated his family and friends. He would often say how blessed he was to have them in his life. Daily, he would be lifting someone (or several) up in prayer. When Grace was around, he couldn’t stop smiling. What joy she brought to him. He will be greatly missed, but left us with so many wonderful memories.
John is survived by his wife, Mary, of Wausau, daughter Shanti (Chris) Hawley of Weston, granddaughter Grace Hawley, and his three sisters: Judy (Dennis) Jehn of Atlanta, Georgia; Jean (Ron) Buedding of Wausau; and Mary (Joe) Spychalla of Weston; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 5:15 p.m. at Highland Community Church, 1005 N. 28th Ave., Wausau, Wisconsin. Dr. Jeffrey Hinds will preside. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 5:15 p.m.
With deep appreciation, we thank our family and friends for their continued prayers and support during this difficult journey. We also thank the Cancer Center and Hospice staff. Their knowledge, respect and care for their patients is undeniable. Lastly, thank you Dr. Frank Rubino for the years of exceptional care you have provided for John and our family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in John’s name to Hope Life Center (or) Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
Debra Beck
Debra S. Beck, 62, Mosinee, died July 1, 2018, at her home.
She was born March 8, 1956, in Manitowoc, daughter of Lucille (Syring) Felzkowski and the late Eugene Felzkowski.
Survivors include her children, Ramona Stieber, Monticello, Arkansas, Shane (Michaela) Heinrich, Plainview, Minnesota, and Stephanie (Cary) Truex, Menifee, California; eight grandchildren; mother, Luiclle Felzkowski, Wausau; sisters, LuAnn (Leo) Mucha, Merrill and Betty (Chris) Rabehl, Athens.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2018, at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau. Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services, all at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.
Jerry Albers
Jerome M. “Jerry” Albers, 76, Wausau, died Monday, July 2, 2018, at North Central Health Care Facility, Wausau, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
He was born Nov. 18, 1941, in Green Bay, son of the late Jerome P. and Bernice (Thomson) Albers. On Oct. 26, 1968, he married Patricia “Pat” Englebert in Green Bay. She survives.
For many years, Jerry worked as a human resources manager for Nicolet Paper Company in De Pere, Ward Paper in Merrill and also for Marathon Electric Company in Wausau, until his retirement. Throughout his life, Jerry was an active member of the community, as president of the De Pere Optimist Club, president of the De Pere Jaycees, president of the De Pere Chamber of Commerce, member of the Knights of Columbus George Schreier Council No. 1069, Wausau, and an usher at St. Michael Parish, Wausau. Jerry was also a veteran of the United States Navy.
Among his favorite pastimes, he enjoyed bowling, golfing, woodworking, gardening, playing cards and being outdoors. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his 12 grandchildren.
Survivors include, his loving wife of 49 years, Pat, Wausau; four children, Angela (Bob) Cleary, Boston, Massachusettes, Jim (Mindi) Albers, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mindy (Patrick) France, Wausau and Andrea “Rhea” (Daniel “Fred”) Sarther, Chicago, Illinois; 12 grandchildren, Breann, Nolan, Mason and Benjamin Cleary, Jack and Isabelle Albers, Anna, Addison, Michael and Zachary France, Lucille and Alice Sarther; seven siblings, Dennis (June) Albers, Karen (Richard) Teske, Lynn (Richard) Danen, Curt (Sandi) Albers, John (Leslie) Albers, Chuck (Patti) Albers and Marty (Barb) Albers; brother-in-law, Darrell (Marge) Englebert; two sisters-in-law, Terri (Bill) Ritchay and Bonnie Englebert; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Willie Englebert; and one niece, Jane Albers.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce will preside. Visitation will be on Thursday from noon until time of services at the church. Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Montgomery Plant Dudley Post No. 10, Wausau.
Memorials may be directed to the Memory Café, 903 Third St., Wausau, Wisconsin, 54403, or St. Vincent de Paul of Wausau, 131 W. Thomas Street, Wausau, WI 54401.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau is in charge of arrangements.
Bruce Hulke
Bruce W. Hulke, son of the late Herbert and Lucile Hulke, died Tuesday, July 2, of heart failure at the age of 76. True to his nickname, “the Hulk”, Bruce stayed tough through a number of physical challenges. When it was time for him to transition to his final adventure, he was able to pass quietly in the loving presence of his family.
Bruce was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and graduated from Wausau High School. He spent much of his youth wandering the near-town wilds with his beloved beagles. Bruce had an affinity for the Rib River and many of his finest childhood memories came from time spent along its banks. As he got older, Bruce traded beagles for basset hounds, but never lost the desire to be in the woods and fields with his beloved four-legged friends.
Bruce married his life-long love, Mary (Krause) on Sept. 28, 1968. Together, they had two daughters and spent much of their vacation time traveling, camping and showing their children the more beautiful parts of Wisconsin and the American West.
Early in his professional life, Bruce managed the Holiday Inn of Wausau and Ramada Inn hotels in the Janesville and Rockford areas. Following that, he was a food packaging engineer and a master specialty welder, working at Rondele foods for over 32 years. His skills with titanium and stainless steel made him the go-to guy for many technical food processing machinery projects. His retirement in 2006 left behind a rich work history and a satisfaction of many jobs well done.
Outside of work, Bruce was a lover of fine photographic equipment, as well as motorcycles for both adventure and just stretching out his hair. Whether on a trip on a bike or in one of his long-running Volkswagens, Bruce could often be found sidetracked into obscure camera shops or looking for a special part to make a motorcycle more interesting.
To his family, Bruce was someone who dedicated his life to providing all that he didn’t have in his own upbringing, and to his friends, he was loyal, funny, opinionated, and generous. A sometimes practical joker, humorous stories about Bruce were a given within his social circles in Wausau and beyond.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughters, Laura (Todd) and Kelley (Jason), four grandchildren (Alex, Daniel, Brooke, Finn), his sister, Sharon, and numerous other relatives.
The funeral service for Bruce will be at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2018, at Helke Funeral Home. Rev. Sid Bouldin will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday.
Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. The committal will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, town of Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a future charitable donation in his memory.
Daniel Hanke
Daniel Charles Hanke, 65, of Irma, Wisconsin, left his temporary home and went onto his forever home Saturday June 30, 2018, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Daniel was born on Oct. 21, 1952, in Wausau to the late Walter and Evangeline (Hickman) Hanke. Daniel graduated from Wausau Senior High in the spring of 1970. He started his college degree at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon and then transferred and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in sociology. For many years, he worked for the state as a youth counselor at Ethan Allen Boys School in Wales, Wisconsin, and Lincoln Hills School in Irma, Wisconsin. Dan retired from the state of Wisconsin as a probation and parole agent with the Department of Juvenile Corrections in 2009.
Dan had a passion for sports and held multi-sport season tickets. He especially enjoyed watching and talking anything Wisconsin Badgers. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing in Canada. During his lifetime he made 30 plus trips up to Canada, often inviting along friends and family to join in on his fishing trips. Many of his childrens’ favorite childhood memories involved their trips up to Canada with their dad.
He is survived by his children: Destiny, Danny and Serena Hanke, all of Tomahawk, his brother: Walter (Delpha) Hanke of Bradenton, Florida, his sister: Judith Schmidt of Greenfield, Wisconsin, his nephews: Daniel (Jessica) Hanke, Tristan (Jessica) Schmidt, and Ian (Leilani) Schmidt, his nieces: Sandra and son Alexander, Sabrina Schmidt and Sydney Sizemore. He is also survived by his former spouse and friend Carey Heikkinen, as well as many great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.
The family of Dan Hanke would like to thank his oncologist Dr. Niaz Haque, all of the staff in the Aspirus Oncology Unit as well as the staff in the Aspirus Cancer Center for how respectful and caring they were for both Dan and his family. We’d also like to thank Pastor Mark Zeimer for the many trips to the hospital and Dan’s personal home for prayer, comfort and conversations. Finally, a very special thank you to Sabrina Schmidt, Dan’s niece, for her compassionate care for Dan during his in home hospice.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, July 7, 2018, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 512 McClellan St., Wausau. Reverend Jennifer Dahle will officiate. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., Friday at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.
