Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Gladys Borchardt
Gladys S. Borchardt, 83, succumbed to cancer Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, at Rennes Health & Rehab Center in the village of Weston.
Gladys was born Feb. 10, 1936, in the town of Stratford to the late Erwin and Florence (Kort) Spindler. A lifelong resident of Rothschild, she was part of the very first graduating class of D.C. Everest in 1954. Gladys was united in marriage to Donald E. Borchardt on Dec. 4, 1954, at Peace United Church of Christ in Schofield. They were blessed with six children: Jeffery, Alan, Jerry, Steve, Lynn and Michael.
Gladys loved to sew and worked for both Northwest Fabrics and Joanne Fabrics for over 20 years.
Gladys was a lifelong member of Peace Church, where she served on various boards, the funeral luncheon committee, was a Sunday School teacher and head of the Fall Bazaar for many years. She was a loyal Girl Scout in her youth. She became a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother when her own children joined those groups.
She loved to socialize and thrived as a member of the Antique Study Club and the Wise Women Investors Club. She also was a YWCA water aerobics participant and an avid performing arts enthusiast. She loved playing bridge and traveling, especially going to her cabin, on Big Bearskin Lake, to entertain her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life.
Gladys loved music and could often be heard singing along to whatever song happened to be playing.
Her loving spirit, quick and easy laugh and giving nature, will be missed by all those who knew her.
She is survived by her children, Jeffery (Linda) Borchardt, St. Michael, Minnesota, Alan (Tracy) Borchardt, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Jerry (Wendy) Borchardt, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Steve (Diane) Borchardt, Kronenwetter, Lynn Borchardt, Rothschild, Michael Borchardt, Madison; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is further survived by her brother, Wayne Spindler; brothers-in-law, Arthur (Diana) Borchardt Jr., Ken (Marie) Borchardt, and Jack Borchardt; childhood and lifelong friend, Mavis Flegle; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; sister, Jeanette Kearns; sister-in-law, Darlene Spindler; and brothers-in-law, Roy Dean and Jack Kearns.
Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Peace United Church of Christ, 1530 Grand Ave., Schofield. Rev. Gloria VanHouten will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, at Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston, and again from 9 a.m. Saturday until the time of service at the church. Private interment will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Peace United Church of Christ or St. Jude’s Cancer Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.
Online condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Dennis “Buzz” Rosenau
Dennis “Buzz” Rosenau entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the age of 73 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Buzz was born on Sept. 19, 1946, in Wausau to the late Edward and Ruth (Laganke) Rosenau. He married Rosemary Zahn on June 17, 1972, at St. John Lutheran Church, town of Maine. Buzz and his wife were blessed with two children, Kyle John and Kelly Jo.
Buzz worked at Wausau Homes and W-H Transportation. He worked many years for John Ohrmundt Construction as a finisher and would always take pride in making sure others homes looked great when he was done. For the past several years, Buzz worked at People’s State Bank in Wausau. The friendships that he created at the bank left an everlasting impression on him that he talked about every chance he could. Buzz was a part of the town of Maine Fire Department for 25 years, as well as a member of the local VFW, and a past member of the Maine Lions. Buzz served two tours in Vietnam as a Special Forces Green Beret. He was able to take part in going on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, which to him was a true honor. He was able to go on this trip and finally be recognized for his time in the service.
Buzz loved hunting, fishing and golfing. He especially loved to travel to Florida with his wife, Rose, to be with their friends. Deer hunting was always a fun time, as the guys would spend time at the shack playing cards and talking about the world’s problems while they pretended to hunt. He also enjoyed going out West to hunt and going up to Canada to fish.
Many people knew Buzz as a man who told it like it was and at times came across as a very serious man. However, when he would start talking with you, you would learn that he had a heart of gold, a sense of humor that would make you laugh for hours and a laugh that would make him stand out in a crowd. His daughters’ dog, Packer, would always bring a smile to his face. He would sit for long periods of time talking with her and scratching her back while watching his favorite westerns, recorded TV shows and sports. He was a true Wisconsin sport fan and would always cheer on the Packers, Badgers and the Brewers and would also enjoy watching Nascar races.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rosemary; daughter, Kelly Jo Rosenau; son, Kyle John (Tracie Landwehr) Rosenau, Virginia Beach, Virginia; siblings, Michael (Susan) Rosenau, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Barbara Jo (Randy) Kopp, Merrill, Wisconsin; nephews, Jeremy (Becky) Kopp, Weston, Wisconsin; and Jesse (Nikki) Kopp. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Ruth Rosenau.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, at St. John Lutheran Church, town of Maine, 5304 N. 44th Ave., Wausau. Rev. Dan Sire will officiate. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel, 522 Adams St., and again from 9 a.m. on Friday until the time of service at the church. Private interment will take place at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send monetary donations to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.
Online condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Jeremiah Furger
Jeremiah C. Furger, 38, passed away on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. He was born in San Diego, California, on April 5, 1981, to Lori (Graveen) Landrath and Christopher Furger. Jeremiah attended D.C. Everest High School and received his G.E.D. He loved hunting, fishing, cookouts, the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. He was a member of First English Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his mother, Lori (Graveen) Landrath; siblings, Steven Jr. (Nikki) Landrath, Nicole Landrath (Matt Lorensen), and Kyle Landrath; nieces, Tricia Lorensen, and Sydney Landrath; maternal grandmother, Helen Graveen; good friends, LeRoy O. and Eunice Stark (He always called LeRoy “Dad”), Andy, Anthony, Rick, John, and Chad; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Steven Landrath Sr.; and maternal grandfather, LeRoy Graveen.
Memorial Service will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 402 N. Third Ave., Wausau, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, at 11 a.m. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. until the time of service with Rev. Erik Olson officiating. Burial will be at a later date.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
Jeff Howland
Jeff A. Howland 59, of Weston passed away Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at home with his wife Jane by his side, after battling ALS for the past several years.
He was born on May 1, 1960, to Russell and Joanne (Koppa) Howland. Jeff married Jane Carpenter on Oct. 23, 2009 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was employed as a welder and fabricator at Blunt (Woods Equipment) until he was unable to work. Jeff enjoyed going out to his machine shop to create, build and repair many different things. This was truly his passion. Jeff also enjoyed trap shooting and spending time with his family, friends and numerous pets.
Jeff is survived by his wife Jane, children, Charles and Alana Howland, Jesse and Jennifer Auner, Sister, Lisa (Chris) Bender, parents, Russell and Joanne Howland, one niece Carly (Jesse) Maruska and eight grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Interim Hospice and Palliative Care and Dr. Thomas Strick, for always being there and for all the wonderful help they gave Jeff during this difficult time.
To Parker, who always found the time to come over to hang out with Jeff and help him with whatever he was doing.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 948 Grand Ave., Schofield. Visitation will be from 10 until time of service at 11:30.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.HonorOne.com.
Michael Urmanski
Michael A. Urmanski (affectionately known as “Moose” by his friends), 56, passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at the Algoma Long Term Care Unit after a short battle with cancer.
He was born March 28, 1963, in Wausau to Walter and Kathryn (Hahnheiser) Urmanski. Michael graduated from Newman High School, Wausau, class of 1981, and attended University of Wisconsin Marathon County and then a technical school.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Michael married Carrie Clark in Eau Claire in 1985. He taught third grade at the Mishicot Catholic Grade School, Reedsville Grade School, and then at St. Mary Catholic School in Algoma, where he and his loving wife lived for the last 34 years. He chose a new profession, working at the Kewaunee Piggly Wiggly.
