Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Lyle Weden
Lyle H. Weden, 84, of the town of Hewitt died Thursday, May 21, 2020, at Aspirus Hospice House.
Lyle was born Dec. 9, 1935, in Wausau to the late Ruth (Foster) and Hilding Weden. He married Karen Manicke on May 24, 1958, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Wausau.
In addition to establishing a successful dairy farm, Lyle contributed to many community and agricultural organizations, including being a founding member of the town of Hewitt volunteer fire department. He had a lifelong love of baseball and one of the highlights of his life were the years he was president and co-owner of the Wausau Timbers minor league baseball team. As a graduate of Wausau High, Lyle was a regular fan of Lumberjack football and basketball. The Wisconsin Valley Fair was an important part of every summer. He enjoyed meeting people at the Farm Bureau dairy stand and the Ag Adventure tent. In recent years visiting with old and new friends and business acquaintances was a highlight. Lyle enjoyed a great conversation and connecting with people. He was proud to be a farmer and an active community member. Lyle was also proud of his family and all his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments.
He is survived by his four children: Gary (Patti), Neal (Kris), Wendy (Weden) Wilde (Dick Klarich) and Craig (Chandra Kressel) Weden. Grandchildren: Curt (Kathy), Steven (Kim), Andrew (Julianna), Ben (Kerbe), Beth (Zach), Isaac. Great Grandchildren: Evelyn, Iris, Lily, Caleb, Naomi, Micah, Quintin, Emmett and Parker.
Private family funeral service will be Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel. At 10:45 a.m., a live stream of the service will be made available at www.brainardfuneral.com. Burial will be at Hogarty Riverside Cemetery, town of Harrison.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. The family would like to thank the Hospice Care team and the amazing staff at the Hospice House. Also, thanks to the caregivers at Applegate Terrace Reflections.
Elaine King
Elaine King, 76, of Ringle passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at Saint Clare’s Hospital, Weston.
Elaine was born May 27, 1943, in Hatley, Wisconsin, to the late Chester and Irene (Gavinski) Easker. She married Martin King on Oct. 21, 1961. They had two children Dale and Dwayne.
Elaine had various jobs throughout her life and always strived for perfection. Elaine was loving, caring and thoughtful. She enjoyed gardening and spent many hours in her flower beds. She loved spending time walking through the yard showing and explaining her flowers. Her passion was watching the birds come to the feeders and teaching everyone their species. She was not a fan of the red squirrels. Elaine will be most remembered for making everyone feel welcomed and special. She enjoyed baking, listening to polka music and playing cards. She taught her grandchildren to play SkipBo and many other games. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, saying crazy stuff, and always wanting to look nice. She is loved and will be missed by so many.
Elaine is survived by her loving husband Martin of 58 years; Son Dwayne (Connie) King, daughter in-law Kay King; grandchildren Tamara King, Ashley (Alex) Pinter, Ryan (Chelsea) King, Aaron King, Shelly King, Kaylee King. Sister MaryAnn Budnik, Sister & Bother in-laws: Rose Marie Stanke, Minocqua, , Alfred (Diane) King, Hatley, Clarence (Patricia) King, Mt. Prospect, Claudia (Robert) Vollmert, Weston, Judy King, Weston and many great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Elaine was preceded in death by her son Dale, her mother and father Chester and Irene Easker, sisters Ellen Haebig, Elizabeth McKenna, brother in-law Kenneth King, mother and father in law Henry and Francis King.
A Memorial Mass will be held at a future date at St. Agnes Parish, Weston. Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, Weston, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences for her family may be given at brainardfuneral.com.
Ernest Kuhary
Ernest F. Kuhary Jr., 83, Waukesha, formerly of Wausau, died Tuesday, May 19, 2020, peacefully at his home after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. His loving wife of 62 years, Maryann (Yastic), was by his side.
Ernest was born Aug. 4, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, son of the late Ernest Sr. and Theresa (Pomay) Kuhary. His life changed forever when he attended a Young Democrats social gathering when he was 17 and asked Maryann to dance. They were married on May 2, 1959, in Dearborn, Michigan, but he would tell everyone that were together for 67 years, because he said he knew from the moment he kissed her on top of a hill, that she was it for him.
Aside from Maryann, he felt most blessed by his three children and five grandchildren, Craig (Sheryl) of Delafield, and their children with Christopher, San Diego, California, and Kendall, Hartland; Carol (Peter) McElvain of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and their children Alex and Ellie of Los Angeles, California; Eric (Karina) and their son Kaline of Orlando, Florida. They all adored him. He is also survived by his loving younger sister, Patricia (Chuck) Herman, Indiana Dunes, Indiana, and brother-in-law, Kenneth (Paula) Yastic, Renton, Washington.
Ernest had a brilliant, curious mind. He got his bachelor’s degree in business at Michigan Tech, and his MBA at the University of Detroit. He worked supporting both the automotive manufacturing and insurance industries. He proudly served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He struggled with mental illness at a time when it was difficult to get proper support and an appropriate diagnosis. Fortunately, the persistence of family ultimately got him the treatment and support he needed and he was able to live a completely fulfilled life, enjoy his family, and be the great man he’s always been.
Ernie and Maryann loved Detroit and were diehard Tiger and Lions fans, but found joy in ultimately settling in Wausau – even though it meant all three kids growing up to be Packers fans. They fostered a loving and fun family by spending time together with the activities they enjoyed so much—fishing outings, hunting, cross-country skiing, camping (even though we were terrible at it), playing cards (especially pinochle), and toward the end, still brilliantly winning a Cards Against Humanity game and always joining in the family tradition of a slightly sacrilegious version of bar dice. The stakes were high for any game as whoever lost was required to perform the loathed University of Michigan fight song – “Hail to the victor’s valiant…” was belted with chagrin by the family to Ernest’s great delight many times. Kuhary family gatherings were always a time to “crack the horns,” pass around Grasshoppers, G&T’s, and laugh until our cheeks ached. Ernest had a talent for slipping in a sly, perfect joke when you least expected it.
Ernest strongly believed that we all have a responsibility to help and be in service to others. He loved his work delivering Meals on Wheels and being a Eucharistic Minister to area nursing homes and hospitals. Through his illness, Ernest’s family is deeply grateful to all of the support he has received from the IRIS/ILIFE program who were instrumental in maintaining his comfortable quality of life until the end. Of course, Maryann’s deep commitment to the love of her life kept him home and happy with conversation, Turner Classic Movie marathons and amazing meals to the end.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 621 N. Second St. in Wausau, Wisconsin. Family and friends wishing to pay their respects are asked to practice safe distancing and keep the state recommendation of 10 or fewer individuals present at one time in mind. Due to the current circumstances, the family knows and respects that our beloved friends may not be able to attend services. We encourage all to express their online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Resurrection Catholic Church, Wausau. The Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Leonard Johnson
Leonard “Len” Johnson, 81, Wausau, died Friday, May 15, 2020, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, after a brief illness.
He was born Jan. 21, 1939, in St. Charles, Minnesota, son of the late Arthur and Elizabeth (Braun) Johnson. On Aug. 24, 1963, he married his high school sweetheart Janet Kumerow at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. They were blessed with 57 wonderful years filled with love and memories.
Len graduated from Wausau Senior High School in 1957 and from North Central Technical College with an accounting and business degree in 1964. He began his career as office manager at Wisconsin Fuel and Light and remained with them for 37 years. During these years, he was president of the Credit Bureau of Wausau, Inc. and chairman of the Wausau Area Personnel Club. He was also a member of the Noon Optimists.
Len was a member of St. Anne Church for 50 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling and was an avid reader. Family was very important to him and he enjoyed every opportunity to spend time with them.
Survivors include his wife, Janet, two children, Patrick (Tammy) Johnson, Noblesville, Ind., Sarah Johnson, Champlin, Minn.; two grandchildren, Kelsey (Andrew) Cazee and Emily Johnson; three great grandchildren, Khloe, Bentley and Harper; one sister, Rosella Schepp, Wausau and one sister-in-law, Gladys Johnson, Wausau; Sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Robert Groshek, Texas and Brother-in-law Tom Kumerow, Milwaukee. Len was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lucille and brothers Edward and William.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated May 21, 2020, at St. Anne Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Tom Lindner officiated, and entombment followed at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Carol Mendrzycki
Carol E. Mendrzycki, 59, of Wausau died on Monday, May 18, 2020, at Colonial Manor after a battle with lung cancer.
Carol was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 6, 1961, to the late Marion and Elaine (Hoffman) Mendrzycki. She is survived by her brother Dennis (Diane) Mendrzycki of Janesville; sisters Rita Mendrzycki of Wausau and Ruth (Rick) Westberg of the town of Hamburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Carol is preceded in death by her brother Mike Mendrzycki and sister Christine Pilath.
A special thank you to everyone who took care of Carol.
Online condolences may be given at www.helke.com.
Pang Yang
Pang Yang, 99, of Rothschild passed away peacefully on May 14, 2020, at Aspirus Hospice House. Pang was born June 15, 1920, in Laos to late Xai Lao Yang and Kia Lee. She married to Zong Chue Xiong, who preceded her in death in 1997.
Pang was a cheerful petite woman who enjoyed making people laugh and everyone who knew her adores her. She has a big heart and always eager to reach out to help others who is in need. Pang loved to watch a good movie, spending time with her grandchildren at the park, and talking to her son in Thailand. Pang came to Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1993 with her family. She was sponsored by her stepdaughter, Chamee Xiong, and her husband, Xiong Moua Lee.
Pang is survived by her son, Cherzong Lee and stepson Lee Xiong; stepdaughter, Chamee Xiong. She is further survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2020, at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 900 Old Highway 51, Mosinee, WI 54455. From 8 a.m.-4 p.m., it is reserved for family and private traditional funeral procession. Funeral service will then be open for the public for visitation at 4 p.m. Entombment will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. Pang’s family would like to thank everyone who offers condolences, thoughts, and prayers.
