Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Arlene Schilling
Arlene Schilling, 98, of Wausau died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.
Arlene was born one of four daughters on Oct. 18, 1921, to the late Harry and France (Andreski) Bloom. She married Melvin Schilling on Oct. 19, 1944, in Wausau.
She was a long-time member of Grace United Church of Christ in Wausau, where she made special friendships with the ministers and members of the congregation. She enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling and especially fishing. Arlene and Melvin loved to spend time at their cottage up north, inviting family and friends to enjoy her delicious fish fry. She loved to tend to campfires and her wood stove.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Melvin, as well as of all of her sisters.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams St., Wausau. Rev. Julie M. Goranson will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.
Condolences may be shared at www.brainardfuneral.com.
A special thank you is extended to the entire staff at Pine Crest Nursing Home for their special care to Arlene and her family.
David Pecha
David R. Pecha, 85, Wausau, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
He was born Aug. 15, 1934, in Mattoon, son of the late Frank and Marie (Herda) Pecha. On Feb. 11, 1956, he married Mary Lou Erickson in Mattoon. She preceded him in death Aug. 7, 2006.
Prior to his retirement, Dave had been employed at Marathon Electric for 38 years and was a member of their Quarter Century Club. Through the years, Dave’s outgoing, positive attitude led him to be involved in several interesting experiences including membership in the German Club, Polka Club, Eagles Aierre, Stamp Club along with being a previous owner of the former Wausau Mets and served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Labor Temple. Affectionately referred to as the “Mayor of Bridge Street,” Dave was very fond of Polka music and the Sunday morning Polka program. He enjoyed attending and cheering for his grandchildren at their various sporting events. Dave was a member of St. Anne Parish and was a faithful usher for over 40 years.
Survivors include three children, Debbie (Ronald) Kuehnhold, Stratford, Bruce (Anne) Pecha, Weston, Paula (Jeff) Budzynski, Wausau; grandchildren, Adam (Jamie Garbisch) Kuehnhold, Katie (Matthew) Grover, Nancy (Nick) Prust, Zach Pecha, Luke Pecha, Lily Budzynski, Keegan Budzynski; great-grandchildren, Ahlexis, Makenzie, Harper, Saige, Michael, Natalie, Lexis, Madison, Mitchell, Holden; brother, Neal (Betty) Pecha, Waukesha.
Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Andrew and three brothers, James, Donald and Dale.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at St. Anne Parish. Rev. Tom Lindner will preside. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau. Visitation will be on Friday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Sixth Street funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the family of Dave’s dear friend Lorraine Ostrowski for all the concern, love and attention they continued to show to Dave after the passing of their mother.
Eldine Czerwinski
Eldine B. Czerwinski, 88, of Wausau passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at Riverview Terrace, Wausau, Wisconsin.
She was born to the late Martin and Anna Duwe on July 10, 1931, in the town of Berlin. Eldine married the late Anton J. Czerwinski Jr. on Aug. 16, 1952, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau. She was a lifelong resident of the Wausau area.
Eldine was the happiest when she was helping the people in her life. She loved going to Wednesday morning Bible class at Trinity. She was an avid shopper for anything and loved visiting with everyone at the stores. She enjoyed going to the casino with Tony until his death in 2012.
Eldine worked as a waitress, a homemaker, as well as a cabinet maker for the former Connor Forest Industries with Tony. After they closed the plant, she worked at Bard Industries until she retired. In her retirement, to keep busy, you could find her and Tony cleaning apartments for Easy Living Management.
Eldine is survived by two sons, Mark(Pam), Wausau, Dan (Mary) Duwe, Mosinee and a daughter, Ruth Kempf, Wausau; Eight grandchildren, Christopher (Kim) Kempf of Green Bay, Nicole (Charlie) Cornele of Weston, Candace (Craig) Johnson of Wausau, Nina (Adam) Pitan of Winona, Minnesota, Cory Kempf of Wausau, Lori Hamann, Chad Duwe and Joshua (Debbie) Duwe, Wausau; 17 great-grandchildren, Desiree and Alexis Johnson, Elena and Layla Cornele, Sawyer and Ruby Jo Pitan and Claria and John Kempf, Mya, Luke, Jacob and Ava Hamann, Mario, Jabez and Jazmyn Duwe and Enzo and Anna Duwe; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one son, David “Gus” Czerwinski, her son-in-law John Kempf and a great-grandchild.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau, with the Rev. Gary Schultz officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Family and friends may call beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
Carol “Shelly” Toftum
Carol Jean “Shelly” Toftum (Shelbrack) passed away on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, with family by her side after a 3.5 year battle with cancer.
She was born on July 11, 1945, in Wausau, Wisconsin, and was a 1963 graduate of Wausau East High School. She was united in marriage to Jerry Toftum at Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church on Sept. 3, 1966. Together they raised a beautiful family.
Shelly was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She loved unconditionally and found so much joy in giving to others, without expecting anything in return. She was an avid gardener; she loved her flowers and they brought her so much joy. She also loved doing special things with her grandchildren, and she taught them many of life’s lessons. All she wanted was to get better so she could enjoy life with her family and friends again and go back in her garden.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jerry Toftum; and their three children and four grandchildren: Jeff (Mari) Toftum of Lakeville, Minnesota, Jodi (Jasen) Buckmaster, a daughter Jori of Weston, Wisconsin, son Julian Casellas (fiancée Dara Daly) of Longmont, Colorado, and Jeana (Jesse) Jaeger and children Mason and Addison of Denmark, Wisconsin. She is further survived by four brothers: Jack (Shirley) Shelbrack, Clem Jr. (Gloria) Shelbrack, Clarence Shelbrack, and Richard (Lhen) Shelbrack; two sisters: Jayne Steiner and Bonnie (Jim) Crochiere; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends who she all loved.
Shelly was preceded in death by her father, Clem Shelbrack; her mother, Clara Shelbrack; her brother-in-law, Ron Steiner; and her niece and Goddaughter, Tami Stubinski.
Shelly struggled with cancer for many years. She fought with great strength and dignity until the very end. “Cancer does not care who it takes!” We would like to give a special thanks to her wonderful Oncologist, Dr. Razazadeh and his entire team; as well as the oncology and palliative care units at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital who were there for our entire family in her last weeks. We will never forget the kindness and love you all showed us. Shelly is now at peace: shopping and gardening in heaven, and watching over us all.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at St. Therese Catholic Church in Rothschild. Entombment will take place in the Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be at the church on Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time for Mass.
The John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
Nancy Berger
Nancy (Sabatke) Berger entered the kingdom of God on Dec. 18, 2019, while at home surrounded by her loving family, after a long battle with breast cancer.
She was born Sept. 3, 1956, in Wausau, Wisconsin, and was a lifelong resident of Mosinee. She graduated from Mosinee High School in 1974. On April 16, 1977, she married the love of her life, Roy Berger. They were blessed with one daughter, Alissa. Nancy was primarily a homemaker. She also did administrative and accounting work, most recently at Maple Ridge Farms in Mosinee, and was a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.
Nancy enjoyed rubber stamping and paper crafting. It was always fun to see her creativity and receive handmade cards from her. She was an amazing Grammy to Tyler and Trevor and had a love for cheering on the Packers and Brewers, playing word games, relaxing by a campfire, and seeing the northern lights. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and was very active in service to the Lord.
Survivors, besides her husband, Roy, include a daughter, Alissa (Josh) Prentice of Schofield; two beloved grandsons, Tyler and Trevor Prentice; siblings, Jill (Randy) Buelow, Kathy Ryskiewicz, Laurie Henschel, Diane Sabatke, all of Mosinee, John (Tracey) Pelot Jr. of Stevens Point, Mike (Cyn) Pelot of Wausau, Carol Zogata of Riverton, Wyoming, Kathy (Jack) Ciula of Stevens Point, Glenda (Jerry) Bursky of Mosinee; and many treasured nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Alice (Singkofer) Pelot; brother, Gregory Sabatke; mother-in-law, Vivian (Marquard) Berger; and father-in-law, Walter Berger.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dancy, Wisconsin, with the Rev. Timothy Roser officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until time of services at the church. A private burial will be held in spring at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dancy.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Chris Peterson and the staff at Aspirus Cancer Center, as well as Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice. We are so grateful for your care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200950 St. Johns Road, Mosinee, WI 54455. (Old address: 2291 Church Road).
The best gift she ever gave her family was her fight against breast cancer for two and a half more years together.
The Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.HonorOne.com.
Samuel Egging
Samuel Edward Egging, 16, of Birnamwood died unexpectedly on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in the town of Birnamwood, as the result of an accident.
He was born on Dec. 29, 2002, in Antigo, the son of Michael and Ginger (Heidenreich) Egging.
Sam was currently a junior at Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School. He was on the Charger Football team, proudly wearing No. 66 and he frequently could be seen lifting weights at school. History was his favorite subject in school. Sam loved driving his car and would chauffeur both his brothers and friends to school and other places. He enjoyed driving his four-wheeler and was currently employed at Taco John’s in Wittenberg and Antigo.
Sam is survived by his parents, Michael and Ginger; his two younger brothers, Andrew and Henry; grandparents, Thomas and Rose Egging of Mattoon and Sandy and Terry Heidenreich of Birnamwood; aunts and uncles, Mike (Becky) Heidenreich of Eland, T.J. (Kirstie) Heidenreich of Strum, Cassie (special friend Zach) Heidenreich of Eau Claire, Hank (Courtney) Heidenreich of Eau Claire, Tony (Jena) Egging of Antigo and Sara (Todd) Willcome of Birnamwood, as well as numerous cousins and extended family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood. Deacon Tom Hartman will officiate. Visitation will be on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memories and condolences may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.
Alvin Rockman
Alvin J. Rockman, 74, of Wittenberg died unexpectedly on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, at his home.
He was born on Nov. 30, 1945, in Shawano, the son of the late Melvin and Cecilia (Kaquatosh) Rockman.
Alvin enjoyed going to the casino and dining out, always ordering his favorite, steak and eggs. Alvin loved to walk his dog, Simba, and take drives around the countryside. Spending time with family and friends was very important to Alvin. Always making sure to send out birthday and Christmas cards.
Alvin is survived by his daughter, Donna Rockman-Klein of Gillett; granddaughter Laura Rockman of Oklahoma; one brother, Denis (Joyce) Rockman of Black River Falls; five nieces, Sharon Rockman, Renee Rockman and Deanna Meade, all of Wittenberg, Amanda (Marlon) WhiteEagle of Black River Falls and Julie Rockman of Green Bay; one nephew, Keith (Tammy) Meade of Muskegon, Michigan, and many other relatives and friends.
Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; a twin daughter at birth, Diane Josephine; fiancée, Clare Dodge; one brother, Melford Rockman and one sister, Sharon Rockman.
Devotional services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at the Native American Church, Wittenberg. Mr. Christian Roth will be leading the devotions. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday at the church.
Schmidt Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, is assisting the family with arrangements.
