Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Phyllis Klay
Phyllis Louise Klay, 89, of Kronenwetter passed away Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau. She was born May 27, 1929, to the late Conrad & Florence Kittelson (Fish) in International Falls, Minnesota.
Phyllis married Walter Klay on March 20, 1948, in International Falls, where they spent their first 14 years as husband and wife. They then moved their family to Withee, Wisconsin, where they established Klay Specialty Advertising. She was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee for many years. Following a move to the Wausau area in 2001, she and Walt retired from sales.
An exceptional seamstress, crafter and cook, Phyllis’ family benefited from her many talents. She leaves behind dozens of cherished keepsakes, including handmade quilts, decorative pillows, clothing items, sequined Christmas stockings and many hand-painted items, including snowmen, aprons and lamps. Each will be a reminder of the love and generosity she shared. The outstanding baked goods and wonderful holiday meals she served her family and the never-empty coffee pot will always be warmly remembered.
Phyllis was an avid league bowler in Owen-Withee and enjoyed occasional tournament trips. She continued bowling after the move to Wausau right through the 2017-18 season.
Survivors include three sons: Terry (Gail) Klay, Rick (Leonor) Klay, and Allan (Karen) Klay, all of Wausau; a daughter, Gwendolyn Klay of Madison, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, five sisters and one brother.
She was preceded in death by her husband, six brothers and two sisters.
Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at Brainard Funeral Home-Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston, Wisconsin. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the Funeral Home. Online condolences can be given at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Burleigh Meurette
Burleigh B. (Burl) Meurette, 85, Wausau, passed away Oct. 6, 2018. He was born on Dec. 26, 1932, in Mosinee, Wisconsin, to Mark and Ellen Meurett. He attended Mosinee public school through eighth grade and later completed graphic arts courses at the Wausau Vocational School, now known as NTC. He also honorably served in the United States Army during the Korean War; stationed in Big Delta, Alaska, he provided instruction in arctic survival training. Upon returning home he worked at Evercolor Printing & Advertising, then began his graphic artist career at Wilson-Hurd, and met the woman who would capture his heart, Catherine “Kate” Jacobson. They married on Dec. 17, 1955, sharing over 61 years together, until her passing on Sept. 25, 2017.
Burl was known as a perennial jokester who could talk his way around any subject, and make you believe it, to keep you smiling and make life fun. He coached Little League baseball, was active in the Wausau Elementary School Stunt Night, was a great cook and a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and the American Legion. In retirement, he continued his artistic work by hand-painting advertising signs and celebration banners under the name “Burl’s Banners,” including a banner for the 1987 “Wildlife in Art” exhibit at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, the predecessor to “Birds in Art.” He also worked as a first-class prep cook at the Peking Restaurant and took up golfing. He happily chopped veggies, made rice and kept the kitchen lighthearted, and logged countless hours on the golf course with family and friends. He helped organize the annual Peking golf outing for many years to raise funds for Pine Valley junior golf, the highlight being a hole-in-one on No. 9.
Burl is survived by his children, Mark (Laura) Meurette, Sr., Mitchell (Lori) Meurette, Michael “Otto” (Tammy) Meurette, and Marsha (Craig) Meurette-Wieman, all of Wausau; sisters Susie Mueller, Minocqua, and Sally Schaffhausen, Verndale, Minnesota; brothers Laverne “Curley” Meurett, Merrill, and James Meurett, Palm Bay, Florida; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kate, son Matthew, and brother Willy.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 330 McClellan St., Wausau, including committal in the courtyard columbarium at St. John’s, with Mother Ezgi Perkins officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.brainardfuneral.com. The family would like to thank all the caregivers and special friends he made in the last few years for the kindness and support shown to him and our family.
Robert “Dick” Vance
Robert “Dick” Vance, 86, died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at his home.
Dick was born June 15, 1932, in Harvard, Illinois, son of the late Raymond and Sue (Goodsell) Vance. On May 25, 1963, he married Helen Becker in Illinois. She survives.
Dick worked as a building contractor and police officer. Building was his passion and he continued this passion into his retirement. He also enjoyed playing a board game called Aggravation, and created over 50 Aggravation boards recently to give to his friends. He was a member of the River Valley Harmonizers and the Good Shepherd Church choir. He was an avid Packers and Brewers fan and was very involved with baseball as an umpire and coach. He received the Young Men’s Distinguished Service Award for his work with Little League and for saving a man’s life in Lake Geneva. Some of his other enjoyments included hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Vance, Wausau; three children, Penny (Dean) Schmitt, Stevens Point, and their children, Nicholas and Hailey Schmitt, Stevens Point; Richard (Sheila) Vance, Woodstock, Illinois, and their children, Stephanie (Coilin) O’Connell, Wonder Lake, Illinois, and Sara Vance, Harvard, Illinois; Nita (Gary) Foley, Richland Center, and her children, Thomas (Jenna) Casey, Ashland Center, Judy Sanders, Rockford, Illinois, and Michelle Sanders, Freeport, Illinois; grandchildren, Tony (Christa) DiPasquale, Belleville, Illinois, and Kenny Cooper, Woodstock, Illinois, many great-grandchildren.
Including his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Pattie DiPasquale, a grandson, Joe Bankson and a brother, James Vance.
Funeral services will be noon on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wausau. Rev. Kemp Jones will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and again on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services all at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wausau.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Patricia Hartwig
Patricia “Pat” L. Hartwig, loving wife and mother, passed away at the age of 85, on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, surrounded by her loved ones. She will always be remembered for her kind heart and spry attitude on life. Pat was never one to sit still for long, of course, unless it was to sit in a tree stand waiting for that giant buck to come by.
Pat was born on Sept. 26, 1933, in Winsted, Minnesota, to the late Andrew and Agnes (Kurtz) Herman. She was raised on a farm in Medford, Wisconsin, along with her sisters Cynthia, Betty and Carol, who were always close at heart. When the Herman girls were together, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house-laughter always erupted. On Feb. 10, 1964, she married William W. Hartwig. He preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2006. Together they raised four children, Deborah Klocke, Wausau, Robert (Janice) Hartwig, Portage, Lynn Balz, Wausau, and Daniel (Molly) Hartwig, Wausau. Pat was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Pat was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Bruce Klocke.
Patricia would like to let you all know that her work here is done. She received a call, a sort of an offer you can’t refuse, for an appointment from which she will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends she has not seen in a long time. Her new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing, dancing, gardening and singing to her heart’s content. Music, laughter and love are guaranteed. Food is delicious and you never gain an ounce. She left detailed instructions for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to celebrate her mission here, which has now been completed. Low adherence to this instruction will not be tolerated.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson St., Weston. Rev. Lance Hoelscher will officiate. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of the arrangements.
To have loved in life is a blessing, to have been loved in life is a treasure, gone but not forgotten.
Lylas Baumann
Lylas M. Baumann, 72, Athens, died Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
He was born July 19, 1946, in the town of Rib Falls, son of LaVila (Schulz) Krueger, town of Rib Falls, and the late Marvin Baumann. On Dec. 13, 1969, he married Jean Hoff at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, town of Rib Falls.
Survivors include his wife Jean Baumann, Athens, his mother, LaVila Krueger, town of Rib Falls, his children, Scott Baumann and Carrie (Kris) Klinger, both of Athens, four grandchildren, Jordan (Emily) Baumann and Nicholas Baumann and Hannah and Aiden Klinger, his siblings, Sharon Landowski, Edgar, Gary (Beverly) Baumann, Merrill, Dennis (Erin) Baumann, Greensboro, North Carolina and Sandy (Art) Ebbinger, Clintonville, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his father, he was preceded in death by an infant brother Larry and his stepfather Harvey Krueger.
Starting in 1964, Lylas worked at Brickner Motors in Little Chicago as a mechanic until his retirement in 2014. Besides working at Brickners, through the years he always had multiple side jobs of painting cars and County Concrete cement trucks, various mechanic side jobs, growing ginseng and many more to always keep him busy.
For many years, Lyle was involved with the Athens Bowling League where he bowled for Brickners, Central Wisconsin Bass Buster fishing club and on a variety of committees such as Church Council and the Hillside Cemetery Committee.
Lyle had many hobbies including: Fishing, hunting, gardening, raising chickens, cutting fire wood, making maple syrup, sausage and canning. He was known for his 30+ years of hunting trips out West, where it was not only his vacation but also Jean’s vacation while he was there.
He was famous for his Saturday morning pancakes and fixing … everything.
Hardworking and a kind heart, Lyle loved his family and his faith at St. John Lutheran Church in Rib Falls. He was always determined to complete a project despite having macular degeneration, with his latest hobby being woodworking. He made friends with everyone he met, telling stories with a deep belly laugh until he cried.
Two words to describe Lyle are generosity and abundance, with helping anyone who needed a hand and always giving something from his garden to family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, town of Rib Falls. The Rev. Terry Reich will officiate. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, town of Rib Falls. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens, and again on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Lylas’ name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Evelyn Plautz
Evelyn Johanna (Krenz) Plautz, 88, loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully onto her heavenly home on Oct. 8, 2018.
Evelyn was born on May 30, 1930, to Agatha and Lenard Krenz. She married Donald Plautz on Feb. 3, 1951. Don proceeded her in death on Sept. 21, 2005. She resided at their family home in Wausau, Wisconsin, for 67 years. Evelyn was a stay-at-home mom and was later a co-owner of Bridal and Formal shop in downtown Wausau.
Evelyn was an avid reader. She loved gardening, enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafting and playing cards. She was an excellent cook and baker, loved to decorate for every holiday, and treasured spending time with her family.
Evelyn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, as well as member of the Marathon County Homemakers Club for over 50 years.
She is survived by five children, 20 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Her children: DuWayne (Bobbie) Plautz, Kay (Greg) Parise, Jolene (Thomas) Maeck, Sherri (Perry) Strassman, and Tim (Barb) Plautz. Her grandchildren: David (Aubree) Plautz, Michael Plautz, Heather (Ben) Schreiner, MacKenzie Parise, Ashley (Brandon) Eppert, Kaitlin (Tim) Radmacher, Justin (Kayla) Maeck, Jordan (Hannah) Maeck, Ben Strassman, Brandon (Megan) Maszk, Tyler Plautz, and Morgan (Jon) Turzinski. Her great-grandchildren: Brock, Lillian, and Thaddeus Schreiner, Carson and Ayden Eppert, Louie Maeck and Baby Maszk. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marlene Krenz, brother-in-law Orvel Utech, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Evelyn will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. Ed Sheeran must have had our mom in mind when he wrote this song because it fits her perfectly. “You were an angel in the shape of my mom. And when God took you back, he’ll say Hallelujah, you’re home.”
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Mr. Phil Larson will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Helke Funeral Home; resuming on Friday at 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Entombment will be at Restlawn Mausoleum, town of Texas. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
Anne Strehlow
Anne A. Strehlow, 81, of the town of Easton passed away on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
She was born in Ringle on Aug. 26, 1937, to the late Walter and Julia (Maziarz) Mijal. After graduating in 1955 from Wittenberg; Anne met, fell in love with, and married the love of her life; Earl Strehlow. Together they lived and worked on their dairy farm in the town of Easton, until 1989, when they sold their cows. Not long after the sale of their dairy cattle, Earl was diagnosed with leukemia. Anne fought alongside Earl for the next eight years; he preceded her in death on July 20, 2001. There wasn’t a day that went by since his passing that Anne didn’t think about Earl.
Anne loved the holidays. Every Easter, the family would celebrate their Polish Heritage with kielbasa and sauerkraut; and Christmas and Thanksgiving were celebrated with a big family meal. Anne loved polkas and polka dancing. She and Earl were members of Polka Lovers Klub of America (POLKofA), serving as King and Queen for a year; representing the local chapter here in Wausau and Merrill. Anne’s family was the most important thing in all the world to her. Whether she was making them her famous beef rollups, chili or homemade stuffing, or calling to check up on them to see if they were doing okay. Her children were her children, and it didn’t matter how old they were. She loved them more than anything. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Anne is survived by her children, Glen (Janice), Perry (Carrie) and Gary (Tammy) Strehlow; grandchildren, Rachael, Tamara, Andy, Austin, Alex, Andrew, Addie and Adam; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Luca, Caleb, Carson, Cameron, Trenton and Harlow; sisters, Florence (Gerald) Ziegel and Lucy (Joe) Muzynoski; sister-in-law’s, Bonnie and Doris Strehlow and Alice (Norman) Matsche. She is further survived by several nieces and nephews.
Beside her parents and husband, Anne was preceded in death by her siblings, Ed, Mickey, Tony, Stan, John, Joe, Jean, Eleanor and Helen.
Funeral services will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at St. John Lutheran Church, 164923 Highway Z, town of Easton. Pastor John Stransky will officiate. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery.
Please sign the family guestbook at helke.com.
The family would like to thank the town of Easton First Responders and the staff at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital ICU for their care and dedication to Anne.
Pearl Borth
Pearl M. Borth, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, at Cedar Ridge Elder Center in Mosinee. Pearl was born on April 27, 1936, to Alfred and Minnie (Jager) Adams in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
She married the love of her life Gerald Borth on Jan. 21, 1956, at the parsonage of the Church of God in Mosinee, Wisconsin. Pearl had various jobs over the years, but her most rewarding job was being a nanny. She dedicated her life to her family and had set a precedent to always take care of them no matter the circumstance. Her love for God was displayed by the way she lived her life.
Pearl enjoyed spending her time with her cats, solving puzzles, baking, cooking and most of all being with her family. Pearl was also a very proud grandmother and great-grandmother.
Pearl is survived by her husband Gerald Borth of 62 years and their four children, Debra (Ken) Bell, Humbird, Wisconsin, Diane Franklin, Doreene (Paul) Surprenant, Wausau, Wisconsin, Jerry (Susan) Borth, Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, and her six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Pearl is proceeded in death by her son in law – Alan Franklin, grandson – Wayne Borth and great granddaughter – Alyzabeth McMullen, six sisters and half-brother and her parents.
Our family wants to thank everyone at Cedar Ridge Elder Services in Mosinee who took exceptional care of Pearl and Ascension Hospice Care for the support and exceptional care they provided.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be the following day Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at Christian Assembly Church, 400 Grand Ave., Wausau, at 11 a.m.; a one-hour visitation will be prior.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HonorOne.com.
Janet Windorski
Janet Mae (Sporisky) Windorski passed away on Oct. 4, 2018, at Benedictine Nursing Home in Wausau, Wisconsin. She was born to the late Walter and Anna (Erickson) Sporisky on May 4, 1936. She Married David Windorski whom preceded her in death on Oct. 11, 2014.
She is survived by very special friends who looked after her, Karen Huber Weston, Jerome (Corky and Shirley Nowak, Wausau) family, siblings; Stanley and Iann, along with one sister in-law and one brother in-law.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, one brother Roger and one sister Stella.
A big thank you to Benedictine Living Community of Wausau Nursing and staff for the great care and compassion given to Janet for making that her home; also to Aspirus Hospice Comfort and Care.
