Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Christina Bickford
Christina Marie Bickford (Meyers), 57, passed away at home with family by her side on the early afternoon of Oct. 23, 2018. The world stopped turning to let our angel take flight. She is now free from her six-year struggle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and in a pain- and Alzheimer’s-free heaven. She meant the world to so many people.
Christina was born on Nov. 27, 1960, to Ralph and Alyce Meyers. Christina attended Wausau East High School (1979), graduating early because she was as smart as she was beautiful. She went on to have two daughters, Stephanie and Samantha, who meant so much to her. After dating for seven years she said “Yes” to marry Brian. They wed March 15, 1997, and had 21 wonderful and full-of-life years together. Shortly after marrying, they bought a Harley-Davidson Wide Glide and spent 14 years riding with friends from their HD group. They attended the 95th and 100th anniversaries of HD and the 2005 Daytona Bike week in Florida. Christina decided to learn how to drive her own bike and bought a Buell Blast. After their biking days, they started traveling, with trips to Mexico, Jamaica, Hawaii, a cruise to Guatemala, and many other U.S. states. They also attended many Green Bay Packers games together. In 2012, she retired from Graphic Packaging after 26 years. She wished to say good-bye to all the wonderful friends she made while working there. She lived in Wausau her entire life.
Christina’s forte was flower gardening. Not many people could walk past her yard without saying something nice about it. She was also very good at crocheting and won a blue ribbon at the Wisconsin Valley Fair. Christina was proud of her Greek heritage and loved to make baklava and pasticcio. She especially loved the fall and the colors. This time of year will always bring back a gentle reminder of the love we shared with her.
Christina is survived by her husband, Brian Bickford; mother, Alyce Meyers; daughters Stephanie Hutchison (Chino Alvarez) and Samantha Wyngaard (Tim); stepsons Dustin Bickford (Nina) and Christopher Bickford; stepdaughter Jessica Powell (Travis); nine grandchildren Alethea Hutchison, Cahtalina and Marcelino Alvarez, Calvin Wyngaard, Brody Bickford, and Caroline, Kaylee, Kinsey, and Cassidy Powell; brothers Greg Meyers and Jed Meyers (Stephanie); sisters Julie Hutchison (Kim) and Jolene Roseth (Cary); mother-in-law Shirley Bickford; along with many nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Meyers, and father-in-law, Ronald Bickford.
Memorial Service will be held at noon on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, 3200 N. Mountain Road, Wausau, 54401. Pastor Jenn Collins will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com
We would like to give a special thank you to Christina’s sister Julie and mother-in-law Shirley for all her their help with Mom and an extra special thank you to Brian for the unconditional love and support he gave as her caregiver. Love, Stephanie and Samantha.
Howard “Howie” Waldinger
Howard “Howie” L. Waldinger, 97, Wausau, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Howard was born in Wausau on Feb. 13, 1921, to the late John and Emma (Beilke) Waldinger. He married May Jeanette Henke on Jan. 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California.
Howard served his country honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II under General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific Theater where he fought in many battles, most notably The Liberation of the Philippines, including the Battle of Luzon. On Oct. 4, 2010, he flew to Washington, D.C., on the Honor Flight to visit the armed forces memorials. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW.
Howard worked at Marathon Electric as a quality control inspector for 35 plus years and served as president of the Quarter Century Club. He also managed Little League and pony league baseball teams in the Wausau area. He loved to hunt with his friends and family and was an avid outdoorsman. Howard also served as an usher at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. He and his wife Jeanette volunteered at Aspirus Wausau Hospital for Mobile Meals for 20 years after they retired.
Survivors include his three children, Lon (Diane L.) Waldinger, Wausau, Diane K. Waldinger, Rothschild, and Shawn (Pamela) Waldinger, Anoka, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Brett Waldinger, Wausau, Brayden Waldinger, Anoka, Minnesota, and Jordyn Waldinger, Anoka, Minnesota; two great-grandchildren; Brittany Waldinger and Blake Waldinger.
Howard was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Sippl, brothers, Ray, Eugene and Russell Waldinger. Survivors include Delores Hilmerhausen (sister) and Bernell Waldinger (brother).
A special thank you to Tina Gajewski, (in-home caregiver and special friend), Kelsey Braker (registered nurse at Rennes Health and Rehab), Connie Bishop (CNA at Rennes Health and Rehab). In addition, a special thank you to Dr. J. Michael Frangiskakis, the Cardiology and Pallative Care Units at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Private family services will take place at a later date. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Wausau. Veteran Honors will be given by the VFW Burns Post #388 Wausau. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Sally Kowalski
Beneath the full harvest moon light, Sally (Kleist) Kowalski departed this earthly life, on Oct. 25, 2018, at home after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 76.
She was born on Sept. 6, 1942, to the late Alfred and Esther (Kruzicki) Kleist and was raised in Mosinee. On Sept. 5, 1969, she and Donald Kowalski were married in Wausau.
Sally graduated from Mosinee High School in 1960 and immediately began her career at Wausau Insurance Company (formerly Employers Mutual). She worked in accounts receivable and then H O credit/billing – collection, retiring in April 2002. After taking 11 months off, she rejoined the work force in the billing/collection department at the corporate office of Allied Health, finally retiring for good in June 2008. Beyond her professional life, she spent countless hours doing the bookwork for their family dairy farm. That, without her diligence and organization, would not have made it as long as it did.
Her pastimes included feeding and watching hummingbirds and spending many pleasurable hours reading. When she was growing up, you could always find her in a corner with a book at family gatherings. A hunger for reading is something wonderful she passed on to both of her grandsons. In her younger years, she greatly enjoyed her time golfing and spent many happy hours picking up seashells on the beaches in Florida. Sally also enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers – Go Packers! Don and Sally traveled extensively in all 50 states, missing only a few years of vacations in all their married life. Also, they enjoyed two special trips to Ireland to visit their friends, Anne and Noel and family.
Special note – Sally wanted two things to be said: She disliked all sewing with a passion, including mending! She never cooked if she could weasel out of it and baked even less!
Survivors include her husband Don, one son Douglas (Inanda), Wausau, two grandsons Riley and Zander, Wausau, one brother Richard Kleist, Canyon Lake, Texas, and brother-in-law Alan Kowalski, Wausau, sisters-in-law Cindy Robinson, Tomahawk; Christine (Peter) Vanish, Eau Claire and Carol (Jerry) Beyer, Wausau, and special friends Anne and Noel Shinnick of Fermoy, Ireland, and Phil and Eileen Harvey of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.
She was preceded in death by her parents and mother and father-in-law, Adeline and Chester Kowalski.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. A private burial will be held later at the Mechanics Ridge Cemetery, town of Wausau. You may sign the family guest book at helke.com.
David Schmidt
David H. Schmidt, 86, Rothschild, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Mount View Medical Center. David was born in Wausau on July 9, 1932, to Henry and Minnie Schmidt. On Oct. 12, 1968, David was married to MaryAnn Ringwelski at Wesley United Methodist Church in Wausau. Wesley United is where he had been baptized, confirmed, married, and now buried. David and MaryAnn just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
David attended Wausau High School and in 1952 he and two buddies joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He received an honorable medical discharge. His first job was underwood veneer for three years until getting hired at Crestline in Rothschild. In 1957, he was hired at American Can Company in Rothschild, which later became Weyerhaeuser. He retired at age 63 in 1995 from Weyerhaeuser after 37 years.
For his retirement, MaryAnn found him a 1950 Oldsmobile that had been stored in a barn for 20 years. His son, Brian, restored it and that was his pride and joy. His first car had been a 1950 Olds. He also has a 1953 Oldsmobile. He loved driving around in them. He had many stories to tell about his early years with his buddies Norm Carpenter and Elmer Tesch.
Dave was a quiet guy, not one to strike up a conversation. He just enjoyed being a listener. His hobby was going to old car shows and reading antique car books. He was a gentle man who loved his kids and grandsons more than anything.
David is survived by his wife MaryAnn, one daughter Sandra (Bill) Bates, one son Brian (Heidi) Schmidt, and four grandsons Alex and Aaron Bates and Riley and Reed Schmidt. He is also survived by two sisters, Doris (Archie) Wauchope, Desert Hot Springs, California, and Lois (Jerome) Guillaume, Schofield.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Minnie Schmidt, two sisters, Bernice (Bruce) Beyreis and Marion (Larry) Raatz.
Funeral services for David will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Wausau. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at Restlawn Memorial.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the staff and nurses at Mount View Medical Center for the wonderful care David was given.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences maybe expressed at www.HonorOne.com.
Peter Winczewski
Peter Winczewski Jr. passed away peacefully Wednesday morning Oct. 24, 2018.
Peter was born on Nov. 21, 1930, in Wausau, son of the late Peter J. Winczewski Sr. and Pauline (Ringwelski) Winczewski.
After attending schools in the Wausau area, he went to help his Uncle and Aunt Max and Stella Hammernick on their ranch in Fort Ripley, Minnesota. Upon his return to the Wausau area, he worked for L. A. Breitenfeldt Trucking where he drove trucks, bulldozers, etc. for 10 years. He then worked for Ronald Detjens, driving truck hauling granite, limestone and logs for 10 years. Then, for a few years, he worked for W.A. Aldridge Lumber Co. in Drummond, Wisconsin, where he drove truck hauling logs and lumber. He returned to the Wausau area in 1968 and drove a truck for Wisconsin Box Co., delivering their products to points as far as North Dakota and Indiana. He retired from Wisconsin Box in 1995 after 26 years.
In his pastime, he operated a business roto-tilling gardens and lawns for a number of years. He also loved to watch baseball and football, especially the Green Bay Packers. Peter loved to go camping with his niece Marie and her dogs. They would travel across the country, occasionally visiting various casinos. He also enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels at this house-side bird feeder.
Peter is survived by two nieces, Susan Kluck, of Rockford, Illinois, and Mary Witman of Brown Deer, Wisconsin; and three nephews, Ronald Kluender, Oxnard, California, Bob Brielmaier of Plano, Texas, James Brielmaier; and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Hedwig (Herbert) Kluender and Agnes (Joseph) Brielmaier; and brother, Adolph (Zella) Winczewski; a niece, Marie Kluender; and nephew, John Brielmaier.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the funeral mass at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at St. Therese Catholic Church, with Fr. Louis Britto officiating. Burial at Restlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Marie P. Kluender Scholarship fund at Northcentral Technical College.
The family would like to thank Maxine for her friendship with Peter, and a special thank you to ‘Geno’ for his long friendship and tireless assistance on Peter’s behalf.
The John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
