Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Melvin “Mel” Radtke
Melvin “Mel” Radtke, 85, Kronenwetter, passed away at his home on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, after courageously battling cancer for many years.
He was born Dec. 1, 1933, in Schofield, son of the late Leo and Esther (Pyan) Radtke. On Aug. 9, 1958, he married Carol Busko at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Wausau. They recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.
Mel attended Wausau High School and served in the United States Army in Alaska. After returning to Wausau, he attended NCTI and studied mechanical drawing. Mel was employed at James River Corp. for 32 years.
He loved gardening and had a huge one almost all his adult life. Mel enjoyed camping with his family and visited 49 of the 50 states. Following retirement, he and Carol traveled to Europe, Mexico and several Canadian Provinces. His favorite trip was to Alaska, where they spent seven weeks exploring and camping, seeing most of the state. He was especially thrilled to go on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight on Oct. 21, 2013, with his brother, Virgil.
Mel was a perfectionist and a hard worker. He could fix anything. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Survivors include, his loving wife, Carol; his children, Kelly (Scott) Campbell, Randy (Brenda) Radtke and Lorrie (Marlin) Kaiser; grandchildren, Neil (Elana) Kopp, Rachel (Seth Carlson) Radtke, Alex (Shelby Champagne) Radtke, and Andrew and Amanda Kaiser; great-granddaughter, Schwinn Carlson; given great-granddaughter, Sylvie Carlson and great-grandson, Ezra Kopp; siblings, Lucy Schulz, Arlene (Harvey) Schulz, Virginia Sikorski, Virgil (Deanna) Radtke, Ronald (Mary) Radtke, Shirley (Harold) Peterson, Sandrea “Dolly” (Keith Hustedt) Radtke, Connie (Rich Grandall) Radtke, David (Sue) Radtke and Steven W. (Venus Morgan) Radtke; brother-in-law, Gary (Mae) Busko; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Clarence, Norman, Timothy, Delores, Gloria and Cindy.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at St. Therese Catholic Church, Rothschild, with full military honors to be conducted by the American Legion Montgomery Plant Dudley Post No. 10, Wausau. Deacon Michael Lambrecht will officiate. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau and again on Friday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Special thanks to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the special attention given to Mel and his family.
Memorials may be directed to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services or the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Evert Kruit
Evert Kruit slipped peacefully into the presence of Jesus Christ on Aug. 9, 2019.
He was born July 17, 1941, on his parents’, Peter and Catherine Kruit’s, homestead in Birnamwood, Wisconsin.
He met his wife, Betty, when his brother, Willie, married Betty’s sister, Arliss. Evert and Betty started playing house together when they were 7 years old. They were married on Jan. 20, 1962, and continued to play house together for an additional 57 years. Together, they farmed his parents’ homestead until 1992. He then held various jobs until he received his CDL license and then drove a semi-truck until his retirement in 2014.
Evert’s love for Christ, his family and friends led him to generously give of his time, talents and resources. He impacted many lives over his lifetime. He was actively involved at Bethany Baptist Church and served in various leadership roles. He also was involved in multiple farm and community organizations.
Evert’s legacy is the family he leaves behind. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Marie (Chris) Steege; and son, Todd (Becky) Kruit; grandchildren, Justin (Hannah) Steege, Brad Steege, Erin (Tom) Klos, Eric (Megan) Steege, Tyler (Chantel) Kruit, and Dillan Kruit. Great grandchildren Harvey, Mavis, and Vivian Steege, Ethan, David, Charlotte, and Marshall Kruit. Additionally, he is survived by a sister, Helen Froehlich; brother, John Kruit; and many nieces and nephews.
When he entered his home in heaven, he was reunited with those who have gone before: his son, David; his parents; and siblings, Jennie Doak, Willie and Henry Kruit.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, at Bethany Baptist Church, 6601 Alderson St., Weston, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
“But thanks be to God! Who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57.
The Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
Hazel Brown
Hazel M. Brown, 96, of Wittenberg died on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, at the Homme Home of Wittenberg.
She was born on Oct. 16, 1922, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Dobbs) Stickney.
Hazel was married to Raymond Koeller and Donald Brown. They preceded her in death.
Hazel previously lived in Ohio. She enjoyed going to rummage sales.
Survivors include a son, Ronald (Kathryn) Koeller and many grandchildren, great-grandchilren, great-great-granchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husbands, parents and children, Raymond Koeller Jr., Gail LaPorte and Mary Schmidt.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg. Rev. Barry Levine will officiate. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Wittenberg. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memories may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.
Mark Patterson
Mark H. Patterson, 60, of Wausau, a former Medford resident, died Friday, Aug. 9, at Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau, where he had resided for the past three weeks following a brief and courageous battle with cancer.
Memorial services for Mark will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Rib Mountain Lutheran Church, Wausau, with Pastor Tim Swanson officiating. Visitation times will be from 9 a.m. until the time of services at the church on that day. Interment of his cremated remains will take place at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery, Medford, at a later date.
Mark was born on Feb. 10, 1959, in Medford, Wisconsin, to the late Keith “Beaner” and Mary Jane (Apple) Patterson. He attended Lincoln Elementary School in Medford prior to attending the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delevan, Wisconsin, of which he was a 1978 graduate. Mark also attended Northcentral Technical College in Wausau and received a certificate in auto mechanics.
A single man, Mark resided in Wausau for the past 38 years. He was a member of the Rib Mountain Deaf Lutheran Church and their Deaf Lutheran Church choir. Mark was a compassionate man, was quite social, generous and had the ability to make people smile with his good natured sense of humor. A Christmas tradition, Mark would teach family members “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in sign language so everyone could sing along. He loved NASCAR! He was a “regular” at the State Park Speedway on Thursday nights. Mark also enjoyed swimming, snowmobiling, canoeing and spending time with family and friends. Mark’s four-legged companion, Sparky, was not far behind, whether it was on a snowmobile, jet ski or in his car. Mark was inducted into the Wisconsin School for the Deaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 for football and in 2013 for wrestling.
Mark is survived by his siblings Ann (Greg) Werth of Wausau, Terry Acker of Chandler, Arizona, Beth (Larry) Kind of Plover, Sara (Roger) Haizel of Williston, North Dakota, twins-Jane (Steve) Paulson of Dayton, Wyoming, and Joan (Tom) Forenz of Georgetown, Colorado, and Tom (Melissa) Patterson of Roanoke, Virginia. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Mark’s name be given to Aspirus Hospice House, 530 32nd St., Wausau, WI, 54401.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Aspirus Palliative Care and Hospice House for the outstanding care of their brother Mark. Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. For online condolences to the family, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.
