Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Wayne Walters
Wayne T. Walters, 67, of the town of Easton died on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019.
Wayne was born on Nov. 17, 1952, in Wausau to the late Leo and Evelyn (Etter) Walters. He graduated from D.C. Everest Senior High School and went on to run the family farm. For the last nine years he was employed at North Central Health Care as the “Jack of all trades; master of none.”
He married Joelyn Kunze and together they had two wonderful sons, Jason and Lance. Family was everything to Wayne. He especially loved spending time with his five grandkids. He also enjoyed being in the woods hunting with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Joelyn Walters; sons Jason (Stephanie) Walters and Lance (Amanda) Walters, both of the town of Easton; grandchildren Shellby, Thomas, Bentley, Jayken and Colten Walters; and sisters Sharon (Harold) Welhouse and Janice Schairer.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents Leo and Evelyn Walters and sister Sandy Ostrowski.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson St., Schofield. The Rev. Raymond Connor will officiate. Visitation will take place from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at Brainard Funeral Home, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston, and again from 10 a.m. until the time of services at Mt. Olive on Monday. Private family entombment will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park
Brainard Funeral Home-Everest Chapel is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be given at www.brainardfuneral.com.
Elizabeth Brandenburg
Elizabeth Katharine (Bette) Brandenburg passed away Dec. 19, 2019, at the age of 90 years.
She was born to the late Albert and Pearl (Wurster) Susor of Wausau, Wisconsin.
She graduated from Wausau High School and was then employed with Employers Mutual Insurance Co., later known as Wausau Insurance.
In 1950, she married Eugene M. (Bud) Brandenburg and retired from her job to raise her family.
Surviving are sons Bruce Brandenburg, Steven (Candace) Brandenburg, Scott (Dina) Brandenburg, twin daughters, Karen Brandenburg (Todd Wippermann), Kathleen (Mike) Vanden Boogard, grandchildren, Matthew Brandenburg, Mitchell Vanden Boogard, Tyler Vanden Boogard, and Brooke Kafka (Brandenburg).
In 1970, she returned to Wausau Insurance and then retired permanently in 1984.
For many years she was a member of Methodist Women’s Club, Good Earth Garden Club and Wausau Woman’s Club. She enjoyed playing bridge, gardening and most of all spending time at their cottage with friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Brandenburg, her brothers, Robert Susor, Burt Susor, Francis Susor, and her sister Margaret Imm.
The family would like to thank Aspirus Hospice and especially thank all of her very wonderful care givers.
A private memorial service will be held by the family.
Harold Goretski
Harold L. Goretski, 79, Sayner, formerly of Wausau, passed away peacefully with his wife, Gerry, by his side on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at Riverview Health Services in Tomahawk.
He was born Jan. 24, 1940, in Bevent, son of the late Rueben and Lucy (Wrobleski) Goretski. On Jan. 23, 1960, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Geraldine “Gerry” Brendemuehl at St. Therese Catholic Church, Rothschild. She survives.
For 13 years, Harold worked for Marathon Battery and retired from Wausau Metal Corp., where he worked for 30 years, until his retirement. He was a member of the Sayner Lions Club and was currently a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Sayner. Harold was very faithful and loved to volunteer and participate in many church activities.
Among his favorite pastimes, he enjoyed watching the birds and feeding the deer, going up to the cabin in Canada, polkas, playing the button accordion and watching NASCAR. Most of all, he loved his time spent with his family and his dog, the late Skipper.
Survivors include his wife, Gerry; four children, James Goretski, Wausau, John Goretski, Wausau, Lori (Mark) Krall, St. Germaine and Lisa (Todd) Mueller, Wausau; two grandchildren, Joshua (Nicki) Goretski, Eagle River and Tyler (Jordan) Mueller, Wausau; three siblings, Tom (Kathy Eden) Goretski, Stevens Point, Don (Charleen) Goretski, Wausau and Betty (Dave) Duranceau, Tomahawk; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Elaine Nowacki.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Wausau. Rev. Samuel Martin will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 until 4 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, and again on Monday from 11 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
David Zick
David J. Zick of Wausau, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly at age 59 on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, from natural causes.
He was born to the late William and Sandra Zick on May 12, 1960, in Wausau, Wisconsin. Dave was self-employed and co-owner of DZM residential contractors with his brother and a volunteer first-responder for the town of Maine. His hobbies included hunting and golfing, but his passion and gift was woodworking and construction. He also loved spending time outdoors, as well as with friends and family.
Dave is survived by his wife Carla Zick, and his daughter Ashley (Harley) Krieser of Wausau from his first marriage, along with stepsons, Wade (Laurel) of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Erik (Mary) of Manlius, New York, and Aaron Harstad (Chelsea) of Ft. Myers, Florida, step grandchildren, Cora and Gunder, and stepfather, Carl Boehme of Wausau. He is further survived by his brothers Mark (Kathy) Zick, Rodney (Rhonda) Zick and sister Joy Selting-Buchberger, all of Wausau, with nephews Will (Heather) Zick, of Wausau, and Matt Selting, of Richland Center, and niece Kylie Buchberger, of Wausau.
Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau, with visitation from 12 p.m. until time of service. You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
Donna Sowinski
Donna Sowinski, 57, of Wausau passed away peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, with her family by her side at Benedictine Living Community under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services after a short courageous battle with cancer.
She was born April 18, 1962, in Wausau, Wisconsin, to the late Chester Sowinski, Jr. and JoAnn (Wimmer) Sowinski in Wausau, Wisconsin. She is survived by her mother JoAnn Sowinski (Tony Podhora), one daughter Beth (John) Hopperdietzel, one brother Jim (Dori) Sowinski, four nieces and nephews, Princess her four-legged companion. She is preceded in death by one brother Bobby Sowinski and father Chester Sowinski, Jr.
Donna was a loving daughter, mother, sister and friend who always put others needs first. She loved her job at Crystal Finishing and had been employed there for seven years. A celebration of life will be planned at a late date.
Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting family at this time. Online condolences can be expressed at www.HonorOne.com.
Irene Dziak
Irene Dziak, 95, of Weston, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Pride TLC Assisted Living with loving family by her side.
Irene was born on April 22, 1924, in Knowlton, Wisconsin, to Alex and Francis Levandowski (nee Williams). She married the love of her life Michael Dziak on April 25, 1942. Irene devoted her life to her husband and seven children, and throughout her life cared with great love for many other family members, blood related and not. Grandma’s house has always been home to her 20 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She had a love for travel, grew beautiful gardens, and was generous in her talent for crochet. Many friends and family are blessed with her exquisite work.
Irene is survived by six of her children: Sharon Seltrecht of Schofield, WI; James (Susan) Dziak of Hartland, Wisconsin; Donna Gerstl of Gleason Wisconsin; Michael Jr (Shelley) of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; Karel (Stewart) Flynn of Port Washington, Wisconsin; and Sandra (James) Dziak of Umatilla, Florida. She is also survived by her sisters: Katie (Duane) Colby of South Range, Wisconsin, Marion (Chester) Kranski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and brother: Frank (Judy) Piekarski of Racine, Wisconsin. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years: Michael Dziak, son: Julius Dziak, brothers: Leonard Piekarski, Earl, Louis, Donald and Leo Levandowski; and sisters: Francis Dutton, Elizabeth, Lucille, Betty, Lillian, and Genevieve Levandowski.
A celebration of life for Irene will be held in late April of 2020.
Roger Fischer
Roger R. Fischer, 87, of Bowler died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at his home with his family by his side.
Roger was born on May 3, 1932, in Underhill, Wisconsin, the son of the late Hugo Fischer and Paula (Runge) Weber. On Oct. 26, 1957, Roger was united in marriage to Mary Ann Dann in Waterloo, Illinois. She survives.
Roger began his teaching career in a one room school in 1953 at Holy Cross Lutheran School, Wartburg, Illinois. He was then needed at Immanuel Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids from 1958 to 1961, Immanuel Lutheran School in Cecil “White Clay Lake” from 1961 to 1971 and finally at St. Paul Lutheran School in Luxemburg “Montpelier” from 1971 to his retirement in 1989. He was also on the LCMS North Wisconsin District Board of Directors and past president of LCMS North Wisconsin District Teachers. Upon ‘retiring’ in 1989 to Bowler, Roger became a grounds keeper for the Bowler School District and a driver for special needs students. He enjoyed working with students throughout his career.
Roger was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bowler. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, puzzle solving and gardening. Roger cherished his faith and family and most enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Roger is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Fischer; three children Scott (Anne) Fischer, Karen (Gary) Perino and Kristina (Shannon) Thiex; eight grandchildren Sarah, Jennifer and Rachel Fischer, Zak and Mikala Perino and Brooke and Tristan Thiex; sister-in-law, Martha Fischer, as well as many other relatives and friends.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Paula; stepfather Herbert Weber and a brother Robert.
A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bowler. Rev. Clifford Kessen will officiate. Visitation will be held on Sunday, at the church, beginning at 11:30 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Cecil “White Clay Lake.”
Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Memories and messages of support may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.
The family wishes to thank all of their friends and family as well as Theda Care Home Hospice for all of the love and support that was given during the past few months.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Wolf River Lutheran High School, Shawano.
