Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Betty Krueger
Betty J. Krueger, 92, passed away at her home on Sunday, June 2, 2019, with her family at her side.
Betty was born on Dec. 9, 1926. She was the daughter of Julius and Ida Rohr and married Marvin F. Krueger, also of the Wausau area, on June 15, 1946. Together Betty and Marvin raised 14 children. Betty loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, as well as gardening.
Besides her parents and husband, Betty is predeceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn Patterson, and her brothers Irvin and Curtis Rohr.
Betty is survived by her children, John (Lisa) Krueger, Green Bay; Marv Krueger, Wausau; Ken (Diane) Krueger, Mosinee; Sandra Krueger, Nekoosa; Karen Krueger, Wausau; James (Kathy) Krueger, Wausau; Ricky (Vicki) Krueger, Bloomer; Bill (Monica) Krueger, Mosinee; Cindy (Steve) Jansen, Ladysmith; Elizabeth Bauer, Wausau; Jerry (Constance) Krueger, Weston; Larry Krueger, Wausau; Richard (Brenda) Krueger, Bloomer; nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 426 Washington St., Wausau. Rev. Philip C. Schneider will officiate. Visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel, 522 Adams St., Wausau; and from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Thursday.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Aspirus Home Hospice Staff and to Rev. Philip Schneider, as well as the office staff at St. Paul’s Church, for their care and support of our mother and our family at this difficult time.
Online condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Shirley Peterson
Shirley Peterson departed this world and joined her Lord and Savior May 30. She is survived by her husband, Duane, son Dion (Cathy) Peterson, daughter Sheryl (Craig) Kuhary, sister Marlene (Russell) Noren, in-laws Eugene and Patricia Peterson, and Marlene and William Olson, and five grandchildren. She was a loving wife, mother and a friend to all who knew her.
She and Duane loved to travel and visited the 50 states, Canada and Mexico, and took cruises to several Caribbean islands. They shared a passion for lighthouses and toured as many as they could find all across the U.S.
She took great pride in her nursing career which began at St. Mary’s hospital in Wausau and moved on to the Visiting Nurses Association where she became known as the nurse who visited babies. Her love of infants and children eventually led her to teaching Lamaze classes for expectant parents until her retirement. During her life and career, she touched the lives of hundreds of people.
Services for Shirley will be Tuesday, June 4, at 11 a.m. at Zion church, 709 N. Sixth St. in Wausau, with visitation from 9:30-11 a.m., all at the church. Rev. Dr. Steven K. Gjerd will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park. Brainard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.brainardfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s name can be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Marion Kickbusch
Marion Lois Kickbusch, 91, of Wausau, formerly of the town of Hamburg, died Friday, May 31, 2019, at Wausau Manor while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
Marion was born Dec. 2, 1927, in Wausau, daughter of John and Clara (Baguhn) Wiedow. She married Arthur E. Kickbusch, June 19, 1946, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Hamburg. Together they raised two daughters and were very involved in the lives of their grandchildren.
In Marion’s time, primary school ended at eighth grade, but she was proud to have earned her high school diploma equivalent. She later worked as a librarian at her local branch in Little Chicago. Music was a big part of Marion’s life. She taught herself how to play the guitar, accordion and organ and was often asked to sing or play for events in her church and community. She once won a yodeling contest and the prize was to have her own record pressed. Marion also shared her talents as a seamstress by making clothing for her family and neighbors and eventually many Barbie outfits for her granddaughters.
Marion is survived by her daughters, Karolyn (Peter) Franckowiak of Marshfield and Mary Kickbusch of Marathon; six granddaughters, Beth (Eric) Carlberg, Shelli Franckowiak, Patti (Donny) Krautscheid, Helen (Heath) Swanson, Breanna Burmeister and Leah Burmeister; and five great-grandchildren, Hannah and Grant Krautscheid, Frank and Owen Swanson and Matthew Franckowiak.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur Kickbusch; and her brother John Wiedow.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 6, 2019, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, town of Hamburg. The Rev. Doug Helling will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon, and again on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Peter Lutheran Church in the town of Hamburg. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
John Pergolski
John D. Pergolski of Rib Mountain passed away Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Cedar Creek Manor under the care of Aspirus Comfort care and Hospice Services while surrounded by his loving family.
He was born Nov. 7, 1952, in Wausau, son of the late Edwin and Lucille (Barden) Pergolski. John graduated from Wausau West High School in 1971. On Oct. 17, 1992, he married Diane Klapatauskas at St. Mark Catholic Church, Rothschild. She survives.
John was a truck driver for Wausau Steel for many years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially ice fishing and being a handyman around the house.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Pergolski, Rib Mountain, his daughter, Maria Pergolski, Appleton, his son, Shawn Pergolski, Appleton and his daughters, Harlie and RyLee, at home, his brothers, Richard (Darlene), Robert (Bonnie) both of Wausau, George (Liz) of Weston, Donald of Nevada, James (Katie) of Neenah, his sisters, Joanne (Jerry) Lang, Colleen (John) Stillwell, both of Wausau, Mary (Ralph) Henry, Tina Walters, both of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Sandra Daroci of Belleville, Michigan, brother-in-law and wife, Ray and LaVonne Klapatauskas, Wausau, sister-in-law and husband Donna and Vern Vetterkind, Rothschild, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents, brother Edwin Pergolski Jr., sisters, Lois Luedtke, Louise Pergolski, Patricia Pergolski and Peggie Bartz and his brother-in-law, Wayne Walters.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at St. Mark Catholic Church, Rothschild. The Rev. Allan L. Slowiak will preside. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau, and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Association for Frontotemporal Dementia (AFTD). Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the family, friends and caregivers for their support during John’s illness.
Valieta Hanke
Valieta E. Hanke, 101, of Wausau joined her Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Our House Care Facility under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
She was born in Marion on Feb. 27, 1918, to the late Elmer and Frieda (Schmidt) Hitzke. She married Norman Hanke on Oct. 28, 1939. Norman preceded her in death on Oct. 1, 1993.
Valieta enjoyed volunteering and sharing her time with many organizations. She would volunteer with the church, was a member of the Vilas Homemakers Club for over 50 years; was the historian for the Marathon County Homemakers Club, she bowled for the Rib River Ballroom Team for many years, she and her husband, Norman, were the organizers of the Rib Falls Ramblers 4-H Club, and she was the superintendent for the open class at the Wisconsin Valley Fair for over 25 years.
Cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting and needlework were some of the things that Valieta enjoyed; she made many beautiful gifts for family members over the years.
Valieta is survived by her children, Sharleen (Walter) Tetzlaff of Mukwonago, Wayne (LuAnn) Hanke of Marathon and Keith Hanke of Marathon; 12 grandchildren, Carrie (Michael) Obradovich of New Berlin, Kim (Mark) Obradovich of Germantown, Kristen (Tim) Milius of Waukesha, Kevin (Stacy) Tetzlaff of Waterford, Constance (Peter) Swanson of Waukesha, Jodi (Lon) Wilkosz of Marathon, Wendy (Kent) Reinhardt of Merrill, Jayme (Michael) Buttke of Merrill, Terry (Carol) Hanke of Ontario, CA, Todd Hanke of Wausau, Tom Hanke of Marathon and Tracey (Dan) Ugoretz of Weston; 28 great-grandchildren, Tyler, Matthew and Austin Obradovich, Miranda, Nick and Ryan Obradovich, Jacob and Brady Wilde, Silas, Maxwell, and Sofia Tetzlaff, Connor and Garrett Swanson, Andrea (Rocky Bentz) Sebold and Alyssa (Jeff) Rhoades, Kelsey (Ben) LaVaque and Kyle (Geralyn) Wilkosz, Matthew (Ava Gruetzmacher), Marcus and Mason (Andrea) Reinhardt, Henry and Grace Buttke, Kurtis and Jacquelyn Alston, Colin and Allie Hanke, Nathan Hanke and Reese Ugoretz; as well as her four great-great grandchildren, Rielyn, Arya, Roman and Selah.
In addition to her parents and husband, Valieta was preceded in death by her grandson Timothy Hanke.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at the Rib Falls United Methodist Church, 154 East 19th St., town of Rib Falls. Pastor Tim Gurlea will officiate. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau; and again, on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time services at the church. Burial will take place in the Rib Falls Methodist Cemetery.
Please go to Helke.com to sign the family guestbook.
The family would like to thank the staff at Our House and at Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for their dedication and care for Valieta.
Roselyn “Rosie” Meverden
On Saturday, June 1, 2019, Roselyn Meverden returned to her loving father. She is now reunited with her husband, Raymond, and brothers Bill and her twin, Bobby, the thought of which brought her great comfort in her last weeks.
Her short time with brain cancer was made peaceful with cherished visits from friends and family as well as her love and trust in Jesus.
Roselyn was born Feb. 22, 1943, in Aniwa, Wisconsin, to parents William and Anna Andraschko. The youngest of four children, she grew up working on the family farm. She preferred being outdoors with her shoes off. She graduated from Mattoon High School and worked briefly on a potato farm in Antigo.
She married Raymond Meverden in July 9, 1966. He preceded her in death on April 10, 2019. They began a family in Neenah, Wisconsin. She was a housemaker and devoted mother to three boys. Her home was a neighborhood hotspot, playing cards and dice games with friends and family. She also enjoyed time around a campfire and spending time with her “Baby boy,” Snickers.
Rosie is survived by children, Ron (Mary) Meverden of Hortonville, Rick (Lora) Meverden of Neenah, and Randy (Jennifer) Meverden of Fitchburg; grandchildren Samantha, Cole, Ryan, Katy, Taygen, and Kamaria; sister Carol Wild; sister-in-law, Jean Andraschko; several brothers and sisters in-law and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Sr. and Anna Andraschko, her husband Raymond Meverden, her twin brother Robert (Bobby) Andraschko, brother, Bill Andraschko, and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2019, at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Birnamwood. Fr. Vicente Llagas will officiate. Burial will be in the Parish cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church.
Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at schmidtschulta.com
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Tanya, of Compassus Hospice, your presence was a blessing. Also thank you to the staff at ManorCare of Appleton for their care and compassion.
