Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Sean Cronin
Sean Anthony Cronin, Rothschild, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 2, 2019; Groundhog’s Day – the weatherman’s holiday. He was born Jan. 31, 1959, and soon after he was adopted by Ted and Mille Cronin in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He was truly a gift to them.
Sean graduated from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He then furthered his education by attending Western Illinois University, where he majored in journalism and meteorology. His first love was the weather. The bigger the storm, the better! He loved storm chasing with his children and watching the latest updates on current weather patterns. Throughout his career, he worked in various television and radio markets in Rockford, Illinois; Springfield, Missouri; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Reno, Nevada, and Wausau, Wisconsin, until 1999. He then became involved in politics, running for the 7th Congressional District seat in Wisconsin. Sean then became a regional representative for The National Federation of Independent Business during which he achieved many sales awards and was a member of the Hall of Fame until he became ill in 2012.
He was a great story-teller and always had a great sense of humor. His children and granddaughter meant the world to him. He was happiest when he was playing golf, watching Chicago sports, hanging out for late-night talks, keeping an eye on the weather, talking politics or traveling.
Sean is survived by his mother, Mille Cronin, of Oak Lawn, Illinois. He is also survived by the love of his life, his wife of 32 years, Maggie; his children Steven (Janessa), and twin daughters Anne (Bradley Oberbeck), and Jennifer; his granddaughter Emilee (the apple of his eye); siblings; Kevin, Maura and Lisa; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his fur babies Mille, Betty and Miracle. He was preceded in death by his father, Ted, who passed away on Jan. 28, 2019.
The family would like to thank Dr. Brian Smith of Aspirus Family Physicians, the staffs of Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Clinics, Endocrinology, and Wound Clinic as well as the EMS staff at Riverside Fire District for their care and compassion over the years.
Friends may call at Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston, WI 54476 on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Brainard Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Therese Church, 113 Kort Street, Rothschild, WI 54474.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to a memorial fund can be made to the Sean Cronin Memorial Fund at Intercity State Bank, PO Box 560, Schofield, WI 54476.
Dorothy “Dottie” Gustafson
Dorothy “Dottie” Gustafson-Krienke, 91, of Weston passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 05, 2019, at Tender Reflections Assisted Living.
Dottie was born on June 24, 1927, to the late Erwin and Irene (Edstrom) Emerich. After graduating from high school, she met, fell in love with, and married James Gustafson on July 2, 1949. Together they had four children, John, Thomas, Paul and Linda. Jim preceded Dottie in death in 1985. In her later years, Dottie reconnected with James Krienke, and they married on Nov. 12, 2010. James preceded her in death in 2018.
Playing organ for the Eastern Star, playing piano and being a part of the Wausau Conservatory of Music allowed Dottie to share her love of music with the world. She was an avid bridge player, and loved to work in her garden. Most important to Dottie were her family, and she spent her entire life being really busy being Mom. Her smile and laughter will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Dottie is survived by her children, John (Christa) of Madison, Thomas (Carol) of Wausau, Paul of Wausau and Linda (David) Naden of North Carolina; grandchildren, Chris (Renee) Gustafson, Kari (Ryan) Gaffaney, Kati (Jose) Agoncillo, and Connor Naden; and eight great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband’s, Dottie was preceded in death by her sister Shirley Francken in 2016.
A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau. Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. A visitation will take place from 3 p.m. until the time of services at the funeral home. Please visit helke.com to sign the family guestbook.
The family wishes to thank Tender Reflections for their compassion and care for Dottie over the past several years.
Sanford Gilbertson
Sanford P. Gilbertson, 88, Wausau, passed away Feb. 3, 2019, at North Central Health Care, Wausau. He was born on May 14, 1930, in Blanchardville to the late Peter and Hannah (Nygaard) Gilbertson. On April 2, 1950, he married Joyce Ardis Thompson in Monroe.
Sanford worked for Greenheck Fan Corp. until his retirement. He enjoyed working around the house and took great pride in his vehicles by keeping them immaculately clean and maintained. Sanford and Joyce were known to enjoy the occasional trip to the casino.
Survivors include his children Sandra (Michael) Gravitter, Crandon; Gene (Miriam) Gilbertson, Weston; Allen (Dawn) Gilbertson, Weston; Steve (Jamie) Gilbertson, Weston; 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and special family friend Deb Fochs, Schofield.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce, siblings Agnes Pederson, Edna Halverson, Lela Willborn, Gladys Willborn, Grant Gilbertson, Donald Gilbertson and Olin Gilbertson.
There will be a Memorial Gathering at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Florence Wood
Florence E. Wood, 96, of Wausau passed away on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at The Bay at Colonial Manor.
Florence was born in Wausau on Oct. 6, 1922, to the late Henry and Martha (Beilke) Hackbart. She was raised on a farm in the town of Maine and was a 4-H member during her teen-aged years. Florence married James Wood, Jr., in Wausau on June 10, 1950. Together they raised three children, Carla, Jay and Lisa. James preceded Florence in death on June 26, 2015.
Florence and Jim and family moved to Green Bay in 1962. There, Florence was a member of the “Sweet Adelines.” In 1966, they moved to Merrill, where they lived for the next 34 years. While there, they shared their faith at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Florence sang in the church choir and served as the kitchen chairman for funeral meals and the church’s yearly Lutefisk dinner. Florence became an expert at making the traditional Norwegian flatbread Lefse, making and selling more than 2,000 pounds over 20 years’ time. In 2000, James and Florence moved to Rothschild and joined Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where Florence was active in both the choir and the quilting club.
James and Florence enjoyed working on crossword puzzles, only using ink to fill in each word. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and abroad, visiting Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Germany, and the Holy Land.
Florence is survived by her children, Carla Marie (Michael) Hoersch of Weston, Jay Alan (Elizabeth Moore) Wood of Michigan, and Lisa Ann (Russell) Deatherage of California; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Violet Hackbart; as well as many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Florence was preceded in death by seven sisters, four brothers and many sisters- and brothers-in-law.
Florence was a woman of strong faith; caring and generous and always willing to help others.
A celebration of Florence’s life will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1901 Kowalski Road, Kronenwetter. Rev. John Czarnota will officiate. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Please go to helke.com to sign the family guestbook.
The family thanks the staff of Colonial Manor and Interim Hospice for their wonderful and attentive care of Florence.
Robert Hull
With hearts forever broken, the family of Robert James Hull (Rob, Boomer) wants to announce that he is resting peacefully in the arms of our Lord. Rob was called home to heaven Wednesday, Jan. 30, shortly after 11 a.m., not more than 24 hours after he was removed from life support. Rob suffered from a severe brain bleed caused by his many heart and diabetes complications in the past six years. His family surrounded him as he gave us the most loving gift of all; a chance to spend his last days assuring him of our love and support as he made his way to God. He was also a donor and his wishes will be honored as he can share the gifts of sight, bone repairs, skin and tendons. This could make as many as 75 to 100 lives better and that is what he wanted.
Rob was born July 20, 1966, in Antigo, Wisconsin, to his loving parents, Mary Lynne (DuBrucq) and William P. Hull and became a loving younger brother to his only sibling, Wendy Lynne Hull. She had nicknamed him Boomer. He graduated from Antigo Senior High School, where he spent years in the scouts and sports. Throughout those years we spent many nights camping at Jack Lake where everyone in the campground got to know and love him. As a family, we also spent a few years downhill skiing in which he and his dad were having the time of their lives on the trails marked in Black. He never missed an opportunity for an adventure!
He joined the U.S. Navy and served four years on the USS Donald B Beary Frigate Ship and did tours in the Mediterranean Sea and along the U.S. East Coast. Rob was married for a few years in which he had two children, Rachel Lynn Hull, 24, and Cody James Hull, 21, who also survive him. He spent many years driving a ruck for various companies and his fondest memories were being able to take his children with him, even if it meant getting them out of school.
On Nov. 2, 2012, Rob survived a quadruple bypass, but due to complications of his diabetes and heart, he became totally disabled, but got to spend the past six years with his children, family, friends, and riding his motorcycle during the summer months. Rob also found out in the summer of 2018 that he was going to be a grandpa in March 2019, in which he was looking forward to taking care of while his daughter worked.
Preceding him in death, were his grandparents, Evelyn and Edgar Hull, step-granddad, Edward R. Barnes, and his maternal grandparents, Robert L. DuBrucq and Jane DuBrucq. He is survived by his mother and father, Mary Lynne Hull and William P. Hull, his sister, Wendy Lynne Hull, and his children, Rachel Lynn Hull and Cody James Hull. Also surviving are his cousins, aunts, uncles, and many close friends.
A celebration of life will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2019, at the Eagles Club (1703 S. Third Ave.) in Wausau, Wisconsin.
The family asks that you please do not send flowers, due to a change in Rob’s life insurance, money donations would be more appreciated.
The Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
