Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Grace (Gribble) Wylie
Grace L. (Gribble) Wylie, 93, of Wausau passed away at the Mount View Care Center Evergreen unit on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, with her family and husband of 74 years at her side.
Grace was born on Sept. 11, 1925, at Ironwood, Michigan, daughter of William C. and Maud L. (Slade) Gribble. She was the youngest of three children. She was a 1943 graduate of the Luther L. Wright High School, during which time she met her future husband, Robert C. Wylie. They were married Jan. 31, 1944, during his time in the military service and began their residence in Wausau in September 1947, where they raised three children.
Grace was a homemaker and also found time to use her artistic and creative talents in the community. From an early age she excelled in drawing and painting. She was an early member of the Wisconsin Valley Art Association and displayed her paintings at the initial Wausau Arts Festival and in many successive years, plus other juried shows in Wisconsin. She taught art classes at the YWCA. She used her talents to design and sew costumes for several musicals performed by the Wausau Community Theatre group and for special Halloween costumes for her three local grandsons. Delivering meals weekly to shut-ins for the Wausau Mobile Meals program, which she did for over 35 years, was her favorite volunteer activity.
Singing was a delightful activity for her and she sang in Methodist church choirs for 68 consecutive years, beginning while in high school. She was an original member of the Wausau Pro Musica chorus and participated in several community choruses, especially those performing the Messiah composition. Gardening was a favorite activity and she once won the YWCA Garden of the Month award. She was proud of her English heritage and visited England three times to the birthplaces of her four grandparents. Probably her greatest outdoor adventure was an eight-day horseback trip in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Her favorite getaway with her husband was on the island of St. John in the Virgin Islands where they made 20 vacation trips.
Grace is survived by her husband, Robert, of Wausau; her son, Richard, of Sister Bay; her daughter, Luanne (Donald) Bradford of Wausau and her son, Rodney, of Green Bay; six grandchildren, Andrew (Katie) Bradford, Mark (Melissa) Bradford, Christopher (Anju) Bradford, Fulton (Laurie) Wylie, Spencer (Kristy) Wylie, Vanessa Wylie; nine great grandchildren, Claire and Julianne Bradford, Hadley, Taylyn and Collins Bradford, Leah Wylie, Archer and Hudson Wylie, Aria Bradford; two nieces and three nephews.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, William and Russell.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 903 Third St., Wausau. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services, at the church. Reverends Jayneann McIntosh and Donald Gribble will officiate. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood, Michigan.
The family is especially appreciative and grateful for the compassionate care for Grace at the Mount View Care Center and the guidance of the Aspirus Palliative Care and Hospice Care units. Memorials may be sent to any of those or the church, in Grace’s name. Brainard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Alan Rupple
Sometimes, God needs a great running back who can’t be stopped. A man who is able to see the difficulties that are in front, feel the opposition closing in and still lower his shoulder and face the trouble head on. One who can lead our team to victory. On Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, at the age of 69, he selected Alan Rupple. God could not have made a better choice.
Alan was born on Feb. 21, 1949, in Antigo to the late Ervin and Lucille (Neu) Rupple Sr. He was a graduate of Elcho High School and was well known for his athletic accomplishments. He and his brothers Erv, Jerry, Alvin and George dominated the sports world. His sisters, Gloria, Mary and Judy cheered them on. But that was only the First Quarter.
The Second Quarter began with the birth of his three sons, John, Tim and Sam. They were exhilarating and frustrating….OK, very frustrating. Next, he met and married the love of his life, Joanne Kriha. A woman who should have known better, yet still became an invaluable part of the family. Alan and Joanne looked forward in spending their retirement years at their recently built home on Otter Lake. Alan was a gifted builder and took great pride in the residential homes and apartments he helped to build. In his younger years, he was an integral part of the Wausau Area Jaycees. Alan chaired many different projects, received countless awards for his volunteerism and served several offices, including president. He could always be counted on to see a project through to the end. In his spare time, he played cards, puzzles and enjoyed golfing. Alan was a hunter and fisherman and absolutely loved hunting out West and fishing trips to Canada with family and friends.
Alan spent the entire Third Quarter of his life enjoying his family; wife, Joanne of Elcho, sons; John (Janette) of Wausau, Tim of Wausau, Sam (Jessica) of Plover, grandchildren; Erica, Alaina, William, Taelyn and twins, Brighton and Blakely, siblings; Ervin (Sandy) Jr. of Sun Prairie, Gloria Hester of Cookeville, Tennessee, George of Fond du Lac, Judy Smith of Elcho, twin brother, Alvin (Sue) of Summerdale, Alabama, Jerry (Terry) of Rhinelander and Maryann (Rod) Halverson of Summit Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ann Slager.
The last quarter … was a battle. One that our father fought hard. He didn‘t win. The running stopped. God needed you back. We love you, Dad!
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 at Holy Family Church, W10524 Cole St., Elcho. Father David Zimmerman will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, and resume at church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
We would like to thank Dr. Hamied Rezazadeh and the entire staff at Aspirus Regional Cancer Center for all their care and kindness they gave Alan and our family.
Vernon Rogers
Vernon L. Rogers, 84, of Pittsville passed away on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at the Bethel Center in Arpin.
He had served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and taught radio school from 1952-1955. He loved hunting and, especially, fishing.
Vernon is survived by children from his first marriage, Candace King, Dawn Carpenter and Scott Rogers; granddaughter, Nicole Miller; six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
In 1970, he was married to Donna (O’Toole) Tessmer. They had one son, Brent Rogers; and one grandson, Henry Rogers. Surviving family members also include his stepchildren, Douglas, Duane and Donald Tessmer; and many step-grandchildren.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Verlon and Etta (Babcock) Rogers; and his step-son, Dennis Tessmer. He was a good man.
There will be a gathering to celebrate the life of Vernon for family and friends from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in the community room at Woodco Apartments, 5386 Third Ave. in Pittsville, with Military Honors being performed at 2:30 p.m. The John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids, is honored to be assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
