Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Joseph Tikalsky
Joseph S. Tikalsky, 70, of Schofield, joined his wife in Heaven on January 23, 2020.
Joe was born April 18, 1949 in Sheboygan, WI to Joseph and Sylvia (Krizensky) Tikalsky.
Joe is survived by his sons Joel (Kara) Tikalsky, Andrew (Patty) Tikalsky, and Timothy (Sara) Tikalsky; grandchildren Hannah, Adam, Alaina, Crystal, Lucy, Sam, Nora, and Madelyn.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Sandra (Smith) Tikalsky, brother Anthony Tikalsky, sister Mary Block and brother-in-law Raymond Block.
Joe graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a mechanical engineering degree. This was where he met his future wife, Sandra (Smith). They were married in Monroe, WI February 16, 1974. Joe worked as Chief Mechanical Engineer at Siemens, formerly Zimpro, for his entire 38-year career.
Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with family, especially trips to Lac Vieux Desert and watching the Green Bay Packers. He was also a member at Covenant Community Presbyterian Church in Rothschild.
In retirement, Joe volunteered at St. Clare’s Hospital logging over 400 hours a year, played cards at Covenant, participated in a grief support group that met weekly at Log Cabin, Schofield, where mainly laughs were shared, some tears, and attended concerts and performances together.
Joe was very proud of his 3 boys and instilled in them the importance of living with humility and kindness, a strong work ethic, and love for immediate and extended family.
We all miss you and mom dearly but are comforted by the knowledge that one day we will be reunited in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “The Joseph Tikalsky Memorial Fund”. These funds may be sent to Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams Street, Wausau, WI 54403. A scholarship is being established in memory of Joe and Sandee.
A celebration of Joe’s life will be held Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Covenant Community Presbyterian Church, 1806 Weston Avenue, Schofield, WI 54476. Visitation will take place from 12:00 noon until the time of service.
Kenneth Edwards
Kenneth R. Edwards, age 94 of Wausau died on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at Benedictine Living Community.
Ken was born on June 1, 1925 in Wausau to the late Harry and Minnie (Hanke) Edwards. After high school graduation he went on to work for Pied Piper Shoe Factory. It was here that he met his future wife, Jean Sobjeck. They were married on October 8, 1966 at First Presbyterian Church. They spent 49 wonderful years doing everything together until Jean’s death on September 8, 2015. After 21 years at Pied Piper Shoe Factory, Ken then went on to work for Wausau Insurance until his retirement in 1990. He was very proud of working his way up from paper cutter all the way to management and becoming a member of the North Eastern Chapter of the International Publishing Management Association.
Ken was a kind, caring man whose biggest joy in life was his family. He would light up anytime he would see any of them, especially the grandchildren. He had a special relationship with the grandkids starting from when he would babysit them when they were little all the way up to the kids coming to visit him in the nursing home. They made each other happy. Ken was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as both an usher and deacon. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent many weekends at his sister Eva’s cabin on Lake Solberg in Phillips hunting and fishing with his family.
Ken is survived by his daughter Laurie (Michael) Mohr; grandchildren Jacob, Rebecca, and Grace Mohr; sister Shirley Schulrud; brother in law Donald Sobjeck; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents and wife, Ken was preceded in death by his sisters Eva Revie, Elizabeth Edwards, Helen Malueg, Ida Kluender, and Vera Edwards; and brothers Harry, Thomas, and Vernon Edwards.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, January 31, 2020 at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce Street, Wausau. The Rev. Joy Nelson Jeffers will officiate. Visitation will take place from 9:00 am until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Burial will take follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Benedictine Living Community, especially Anna and Gina as well as to Olivia Punke for their loving care for Ken and his family.
Dr. W. Mark “Doc” Meacham
Dr. W. Mark “Doc” Meacham was a man who had a distinctive gruff voice that went along with a kind heart. He was a family man who always cared for his patients. During his career he took great pride in Continuing Education; always bettering himself, his technique, and his practice, all for the patients he felt fortunate to treat. For 40 years, every night he personally called each patient he saw that day to see “how they were doing”. He reached the pinnacle in his education by becoming a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry. Doc was the proud father of two girls, Nicole and Dr. Noelle who had the opportunity to work with her Dad as partners and colleagues.
Doc was born October 6, 1942 in Beloit to the late Walter and Marion (Walls) Meacham. He grew up in Sparta and after graduating from high school, he enrolled at UW Madison. While a student, Doc was drafted into the U.S. Army and served eleven months in Vietnam. Upon his return to the US, he married the love of his life, Margaret Murray, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Black River Falls on Aug 5, 1967. He then finished at UW Madison and continued on to Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee. He graduated in 1974, moved to Marathon where he practiced until retiring in 2012. Doc was an active member and long-time officer of the Marathon Trap and Sportsman’s Club. He was instrumental in building the new clubhouse and bringing in the first Badger State Games skeet shooting competition to the club. Doc was an outdoorsman who hunted game in Mexico, Africa, Argentina and throughout the United States as well as fishing Up North and Canada.
At the age of 77, Doc passed away on Monday, January 27, 2020 at Aspirus Hospice House.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Marathon, two daughters, Nicole (Mark) Chickering of Wausau, Dr. Noelle (Keith) Marks of Marathon, three grandchildren, Owen, McKinnley and Wilson Marks and three sisters, Marion Hemstrom PhD of Chicago, Kitty (Tirzah) Yoreh PhD of Toronto, Canada and Ann Thayer of Kendall. Doc was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Barb Meacham.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m., Sunday February 2, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 712 Market St., Marathon. Reverend Monsignor Joseph Diermeier will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services. Following Mass, full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Alois Dreikosen Post #469 where Doc was a member. Burial will take place at a later date in Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, WI. You may sign our family guest book at helke.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church or School or St. Anthony Spirituality Center, 300 E. 4th St., Marathon.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and doctors at Aspirus Oncology Dept. and Hospice House for the care and kindness they gave Doc and our family.
Neal Masanz
Neil A. Masanz, 47, of Kronenwetter passed away Saturday, January 25, 2020 with his loving family by his side, at Marshfield Medical Center, Marshfield, Wi.
He was born August 16, 1972 in Wausau, son of Allen Masanz and the late Judith (Bergs) Masanz. On October 3, 2009 he married Hollie Watland in Mosinee, Wisconsin. She survives.
For many years Neil was employed at Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point as Senior Business Analyst.
Neil was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, 4wheeling, walking in the woods, cocktails by the fire and hanging out with family and friends at the family cabins.
In July 2019 Neil & Hollie were blessed with a grandson, Kallen William Bibeau. Neil didn’t hide the fact that baby Kallen was his favorite family member.
Survivors include his wife, Hollie Masanz, Kronenwetter: his children, Valarie Bibeau, Kronenwetter and Wyatt (Kassandra Schulz) Pufall, Wausau: his father Allen (Jeanette) Masanz, Milton: brother, Randy Masanz, Marathon: one grandson, Kallen Bibeau: his mother-in-law and father-in-law, William and Connie Watland Ashland: brother-in-law, Shawn Watland, Nephews Tayler, Skyler and Billy Watland: Step brothers Joel, Craig and Robb Knauf and their families along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Neil was preceded in death by his mother, Judith Masanz and his Beloved dog Belle.
A Funeral Service will be held at Noon, Saturday, February 1, 2020 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon. The Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Neil’s name. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com
Christine “Chris” Koskey
Christine “Chris” Koskey, 56, passed away peacefully with family and close friends by her side on Friday, January 24, 2020. She was in palliative care at Marshfield Medical Center, Marshfield. Chris had been long battling a complicated illness.
Chris is now reunited with the love of her life, Paul Frankwick who preceded her in death in 2014. Her short time with Paul was the happiest time of her life.
Chris was born to Raymond and Pearl Koskey (Reimes) on June 17, 1963 in the City of Wausau who also preceded her death. She is survived by her sister Mary (Rod) Derby, Weston, WI and nephews, Adam Derby, Austin, TX and Tyler (Victoria) Derby, Dixon, CA.
Chris graduated from DC Everest Senior High. She worked for various cleaning companies while she resided in Wausau, WI. She since resided in Marshfield, WI for over 20 years.
Chris loved animals. She had a dog, Muffin who under her great care lived a long life. Her current pets are 2 cats. Sunshine & Emma. They are currently with the great organization Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS) who will find them their “furever” home.
Chris loved to do craft projects of many kinds. Her most recent passion had been painting ceramics. In addition to selling her projects, she gave many as gifts to family and friends.
With heavy heart she will be sadly missed.
Peterson Funeral Home, 1302 6th St, Wausau, WI is in charge of arrangements. A small service and burial will be held at Forestville Cemetery, Ringle, WI at a later date.
Paula Jeanette Chicken (81) passed away on January 24th, 2020 at the Aspirus Wausau Palliative Care Unit.
Paula was born November 25, 1938 to Thomas Earl & Mattie Elmira Ramage in Wichita Falls, Texas. As a child she was a voracious reader and gifted student, graduating from Wichita Falls High School in 1957 in the top 10% of her 500 member class. Upon graduation she worked as a secretary for the Department of Intelligence Training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. It was there that she met a young Airman, Fred Michael Chicken, and wed on June 9th, 1961 at the Sheppard Air Force Base Chapel. They would be married for the next 58 years.
After her husband’s military service, Paula relocated to Wisconsin and eventually settled in the Wausau area in 1967. She was a Cub Scouts Den Mother, Village Treasurer and Grade School Aide at Rothschild Elementary. She also worked as a Secretary for Jack Williams Realty for much of the 1970s. In the early 1980s, she entered the North Central Technical Institute School of Nursing and was a Distinguished Graduate. Paula was a Registered Nurse for the next 30 years.
Paula is survived by her husband Fred, and 6 children, 5 sons and a daughter. Chris (Linda) Slepica of Oregon, Wisconsin, Eric (Rebecca Seelund) Chicken of Crawfordville, Florida, Kimberly (Lee) Knetter of DePere, Wisconsin, Mark Slepica of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Daniel (Elizabeth) Paul of Wausau, Wisconsin and Jonathan (Kelly Northup) Chicken of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. At the time of her passing Paula had 15 grandchildren.
Paula will be remembered for her quick wit, generous nature, great cooking and firm guidance. For family members, she was quick to speak her mind but always in a way to push all to be their best. Paula was a devoted wife, caring mother, loving grandmother and compassionate nurse. She will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Juanita and Helen and brothers Gene and Marshall.
A private family remembrance will be held Friday, January 31st 2020 at the Great Dane Pub and Restaurant in Wausau.
