Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Walter Millar
Walter J. Millar, 82, of Wausau died on Friday, July 20, 2018, at Colonial Manor with his wife and daughter by his side.
Walter was born on July 10, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from high school and went on to serve his country honorably in the United States Army. He married Judith Trantow; together they enjoyed riding motorcycles and fishing. Walter was also an avid reader and loved watching old Western movies and the Packers.
Walter is survived by his wife, Judith Trantow-Millar; children LuAnne, Jennifer, Douglas, Tammy and Scott, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his sons Eric and Lance.
A private family gathering will be held at a later date.
Tamela Blake
Tamela “Tammy” A. Blake, 59, passed away Monday, July 23, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by family at Wausau Manor.
She was born Feb. 23, 1959, in Mazeppa, Minnesota, daughter of the late Clarence and Patricia (Muenzhuber) Blake.
She worked as a health teacher for Pacelli High School and spent many years as a fitness instructor. In 1996, Tammy was proud to have completed the Boston Marathon. She enjoyed golfing, tennis and downhill skiing, and she was on the ski patrol at Granite Peak.
Survivors include her daughter, Liz Hertz; grandson, Zaccary Quinlan; siblings, Bill (Lori) Blake, Cyndi (Dennis) Agner, Michelle (Al) Natzke, Tim (Marilou) Blake, Tony (Cheryl) Blake and Andy (Tammie) Blake; former spouse, Robert Hertz Jr. and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Samuel Hertz.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Rev. Mark Schwalenberg will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of services, all at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Elizabeth Schmidt
Elizabeth Mildred Schmidt, 99, of Wausau passed away on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Applegate Terrace under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
She was born on April 7, 1919, in Granite Heights, Wisconsin, (town of Texas) to the late Frank and Bessie Hanke. Elizabeth grew up and attended school in Wausau, graduating from Wausau High School. She married Edwin Schmidt on Dec. 25, 1941. Edwin was called to serve during World War II, so they moved up their planned wedding to Christmas Day just before he was to be deployed. While he was stationed in the South Pacific for three years, Elizabeth worked as a Red Cross nurse’s aide and at Marathon Electric.
Later in life, Edwin and Elizabeth enjoyed travelling; including trips to Europe and cruising. She was an accomplished seamstress and oil painter. She also had musical talent playing organ, harmonica, and she and her husband were members of Al Kiefer’s Fun Band.
Survivors include her children, Jeanne Geeraerts of Tempe, Arizona, Robert (Lonna) Schmidt of Green Bay, and David (Susan) Schmidt of Gurnee, Illinois; grandchildren, Gary, Greg, Jason, Erik and Andrew; brothers and sisters-in-law, Geri Hanke, Mary Schmidt, Albert (Liz) Schmidt, and George Schmidt; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bessie; brothers and sisters, Bill (Lou) Hanke, Burton (Rosie) Hanke, Lester (Goldie) Hanke, Myrtle (Ralph) Hall, Gertie (Ray) Richart, Dudley (Maryann) Hanke, Russell Hanke, Frank (Buddy) Hanke, Patricia (Donald) Schmitz, and Glen Hanke; granddaughter, Cynthia Schmidt; son-in-law, Jeff Geeraerts; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Freida Schmidt, Bill Schmidt, Melvin (Ruth) Schmidt, and Sharon Schmidt.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 903 Third St., Wausau, with Rev. Jayneann McIntosh officiating. Family and friends may call on Sunday, July 29, beginning at 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, and on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Entombment will follow in Restlawn Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, town of Texas.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
The family requests memorials to V.F.W. Burns Post 388 or to First United Methodist Church, Wausau.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and management at Applegate Terrace Assisted Living, Applegate Reflections and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
John Radke
John Martin Radke, 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at home. He was born Aug. 4, 1930, in the town of Stettin to the late Paul and Bertha (Goetsch) Radke. John was born, lived most of his life and passed away on the family farm.
He married Arlene Zastrow on June 21, 1952, and celebrated they their 66th anniversary this year.
John started driving a truck for a living at the age of 14 and drove until the age of 81; and still enjoyed Sunday drives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Oscar (Mickey) Radke, Harold (Addie) Radke and Albert (Elaine) Radke; two sisters, Doris (Wilbert) Ziebell and Grace (DeHart) Wiederhoeft; son-in-law, Merlin Radke; and grandson, Dillon Radke.
John is survived by his wife, Arlene; sister, Violet (Norton) Hacbart; brother, Paul (JoAnne) Radke; two daughters, Nancy (Merlin) Radke and Carol (Brian) Olshanski. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Anne Radke, Eldon (Meghan Sullivan) Kurth, Nichole (Kendall) Digman, and Amber (Rafael) Tapia; great-grandchildren, Chelsea (Mikel Becker) Radke, Nicholas Dreager, Wyatt, Declyn, Sawyer, and Lyra Digman, Kaydence Radke, Emma Leigh, and Alexander Tapia and Luke Radke; great-great-grandchildren, Lillie and Jaydon Radke; as well as many nieces and nephews and other family.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1008 N. 120th Ave., town of Stettin. Lay Minister Sharlene Hieronimus will officiate. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Burial will take place at the Stettin Christian Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Tami Mroczenski for all of the wonderful care.
Peter Stavrakis
Peter Stavrakis, 96, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and formerly of Wausau went to be with our Lord on Saturday, July 21, 2018.
Peter was born May 5, 1922, in Lowell, Massachusetts, to the late Spyros P. and Marie E. (Belair) Stavrakis.
He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. Peter retired after working for the U.S. and Wisconsin Veterans Administration. Peter enjoyed playing piano, crossword puzzles, studying Spanish, telling jokes and reading his Bible.
He is survived by his brother, John Belair, two sons, Richard L. (Allison) Stavrakis and Wayne “Jeffery” (Susan) Stavrakis, three grandchildren Jolene M. (Richard) Marek, Stacy Lynn (Jacob) Meyer, Nicole Ann Stavrakis and four great grandchildren, Keleo, Coral, Eva and Lucia. Peter was further preceded in death by his son Stephen P. Stavrakis, his wife Margaret E. (Richetto), his step-son Carmello E. Richetto and his first wife Beulah M. (Griffin).
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 28, at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St. Wausau, Wisconsin. Interment will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from noon until the time of services.
