Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Peter Brandl
A fond farewell to Peter (Pete) who left us on Dec. 20, 2018. He is sorely missed by his wife, Jeanne, and his family and friends.
Peter was born in Wausau to parents, John and Marion (Sust) Brandl, on March 11, 1951. He was the fifth child of John and Marion, who had lost three of their children to cystic fibrosis. One sister, Jean (Sewacki), survives. He has three nephews: Rory Roberts (wife, Diane, and their sons) in California, Matthew Sewacki (wife Val) and Mark Sewacki (wife, Becky, and two sons, Sam and Max), both in Wisconsin. He has many remaining in-laws: Judy and Mike Dudek, Ellen Mittlesteadt, John Bellgraph, Linda Bellgraph and Kim Lang, Susan and Steve Gross, many nieces and nephews. He was especially close to the Ellen’s children: Sam, Joe, Becky, Gabrielle and Meg. Jeanne’s mother, Ina Mae Peck Bellgraph (deceased) were close as they had genealogy in common. We lost Charlie Bellgraph in July, David and Dick previously.
He attended St. Anne’s for elementary school and Newman for high school, graduating in 1969. He then attended Northcentral Technical College, University of Wisconsin Marathon County and UW-Green Bay.
He met Jeanne in 1977 on a blind date. The connection was electric and lasted more than 40 years. They married May 15, 1979. Peter adopted Jeanne’s daughter, Elsa, age 7; Zachary P. was born a few years later and was the result of much effort and encouragement from Peter for his wife.
During and after college, he worked as a carpenter and found his niche there, becoming a foreman for his last employer in that field and before starting his own business. After a few years he was convinced that working for the county was a more stable option and was hired at the Marathon County Park Department, where he worked for almost 30 years. He retired about three years ago. During all of those years he moonlighted as a carpenter to work with Dick and Bob doing his favorite job. One could call him a workaholic.
During those years he built three houses for himself and remodeled one. When the remodeled house sold, he used the proceeds to build a beautiful home in the town of Hewitt and moved in 2000, that house was sold to build a retirement home in the town of Wausau. Sadly, he was unable to fully complete the newest house before he left us.
Despite constantly working, he loved to work on genealogy. He spent many winters filling up folders of documented information and summers traveling in an old motorhome visiting cemeteries and churches locating several families’ records. He also liked collecting antiques (inspired by his mother), Toby mugs, various old bottles, and others. He landscaped each place where he lived, planned scenery and moved boulders, planted many types of flowers and plants, loved gardening and prided himself on growing the tallest tomato plants.
Current pets are Poppy, a one-eyed, black and white Shih Tzu and Zeus, a mostly black Shih Tzu, adopted from the Shih Tzu Rescue.
Peter’s friends are many, but the closest are Bob and Chris, Mel and Paula, Mike and Helen and Kathy. Past friends he kept in touch with were Jay (deceased), David and Jerry. He was very fond of the relationships with Jeanne’s family and his own. Since moving to his current home, he had become friendly with his new neighbors: Brian, Andy and Britt, and Carl, Louis and Kelly.
Peter was the most genuine and sincere person most of us could ever know. He cared about everyone, was willing to help anyone, would give advice to everyone. He deserves recognition for his kindness and supportive personality. We are privileged to have known him.
(Please forgive me if I’ve left anyone out who was close to Peter. I’m not thinking clearly these days.)
Visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 27, 2010, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams St., Wausau.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Wojciechowski
Jacqueline “Jackie” Leigh Wojciechowski, 51, Wausau, passed away surrounded by her family at Marshfield Medical Center on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, after suffering a brain aneurysm.
She was born Oct. 20, 1967, in Wausau, daughter of Sharon (Weisenberger) Borchardt, Wausau, and Jerry Borchardt, Wausau. Jackie married her high school sweetheart, Bill Wojciechowski, and they were happily married for 34 years.
Jackie was a 1986 graduate of Wausau East High School. She had a passion for cooking and food service. Jackie obtained numerous certifications in dietary and nutritional services. She was the director of food and nutritional services at St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston, for many years.
The real joy of Jackie’s life was her husband, her sons, and her three beautiful grandchildren. Jackie and Bill’s marriage was an incredible love story. They were best friends. Jackie and Bill loved traveling together, and they often spent time on the Gulf Coast, in the Smokey Mountains, and in Las Vegas. They loved going to concerts and out to dinner. Jackie also loved spending time with her grandchildren — taking them to movies, out to dinner, shopping, and sleepovers.
Jackie was an excellent cook and hostess, and she made every holiday and celebration special. She loved her home and her beautiful yard. She loved planting flowers and feeding the deer who often visited her and Bill’s deck. Jackie loved shopping, especially for shoes, purses and jewelry.
Survivors include her husband, Bill Wojciechowski, Wausau, her parents, Sharon Borchardt, Wausau, and Jerry Borchardt, Wausau, her two sons, Ryan Wojciechowski, Athens, and Nathan (Ashley) Wojciechowski, Appleton, her grandchildren, Mason, Aiden, and Hannah, whom she loved dearly, her sisters, Heidi (Jamie) Mayer, Appleton, and Jamie (Matt) Woller, Kronenwetter, and nieces and nephews, Kylie, Caitlin, Carson, Mckenna, and Bennett.
Jackie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Wilbur Borchardt, Loetta (Ted) Dirks, and Leonard and Ida Weisenberger.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau. The Rev. Marion Talaga will officiate. Friends may call on Thursday from 4 p.m. until the time of services all at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Jackie’s name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
John “Jack” Dowe
John “Jack” Peter Dowe, 65, of Merrill, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Jack was born Nov. 25, 1953, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, to Dr. Gerald and Carol (Campbell) Dowe. He was a 1971 graduate of Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He also attended UW-River Falls.
Jack married Denise Renee (Roland) Dowe on Aug. 15, 1998, in Schofield, Wisconsin, after which the couple resided in Merrill, Wisconsin. Jack had four children: Charles T. (Carolina) Dowe, Virginia H. McDowell, Thomas G. (Renee) Dowe and Andrew W. Dowe. He also had a stepdaughter: Tammy Jo Hollman. He had seven grandchildren: John, Rosemary, Charles Jr., Alexis, Cerena, Brantley and Briella.
Jack worked as an automotive technician and then went to work at NAPA Auto Parts as an automotive parts specialist. For many years Jack enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and had a passion for woodworking. He loved spending time with his family and friends, and he was known for his continuous selfless acts that touched the lives of many.
Jack is survived by his wife, his four children, one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, his brothers and sisters, Mary Anne Dowe Quinlan, Sue Dowe Hudson, William Dowe, James Dowe, Jeanne Smith, Teresa Blake, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home in Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with open mic at 6 p.m. for family and friends to share memories, stories and prayers.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.HonorOne.com.
Patricia Benn
Patricia A. Benn, 71, passed away peacefully at Cedar Ridge in Mosinee, on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018.
A lifelong resident of Mosinee, she is survived by her husband, Charles H. Benn; son, Jason Benn of Baraboo; daughter, Jennifer (Benn) Hrebik of Mosinee; four grandchildren, Jacob, Matthew and Caden Hrebik of Mosinee, and Keagan Benn-Wallace of California; three sisters, Geraldine (Kleist) Kunkel of Eau Claire, Marlene (Kleist) Klimek of Weston, her twin Barbara Kleist of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and her brother, George J. (Marilyn) Kleist of Sturgeon Bay.
Pat graduated from Mosinee High School in 1965. She worked in accounts receiving at Connors in Wausau, and married Charlie in November of 1970.
She loved her grandchildren very much and spent much time with them. Her favorite pastimes were going to Las Vegas and local casinos, ceramics, sitting around the campfire, polka dancing and many types of needle point crafts.
Pat’s family gives a special thanks to the staff at Cedar Ridge and Aspirus Hospice for their wonderful care.
The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 901 11th St. in Mosinee. Pastor Ray Claussen will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
The John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
Arlo Erickson
Arlo G. Erickson, 79, formerly of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at Pride TLC Therapy & Living Campus in Weston.
He was born on March 2, 1939, in Westbrooke, Minnesota, to the late Andrew and Emma (Albertson) Erickson.
Arlo had operated service stations in Merrill and Columbus in his younger years and he retired from Semco in Merrill. He enjoyed sports, especially baseball, and he loved getting out on his hoverround, having a beer with his friends and going out for breakfast with friends and family.
Survivors include his sons, Larry (Barb) and Jeff (Joann) Erickson; daughters, Julie (Paul) Bricko, Judy (Wayne) Solinsky and Sheri (Mike) Knutson; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one great-grandchild on the way; brother, Orea and John Erickson; and former wife, Grace Wood.
In addition to his parents, Arlo was preceded in death by his brother, Derald Erickson; and sisters, Lorna Gorman and Susanne Pergande.
Services will be held at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 948 Grand Ave., Schofield, on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m., officiated by Pator Ethan Larson.
For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
