Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Nancy Meurett
Nancy A. Meurett passed away too soon on May 29, 2020, at the age of 58; her husband, Bob and son, Nick were by her side.
Nancy was born to Richard and Maxine (Drake) Hotchkiss on June 20, 1961, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up, Nancy enjoyed spending time with her family, being outdoors, fishing and vacationing at their family cabin in Townsend, Wisconsin. She married Robert “Bob” Meurett on June 20, 1981, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Mosinee. She was a homemaker, and followed in her mother’s footsteps, with her desire to open a daycare in her home. After having her children, Nancy continued the tradition of spending time at their family cabin in Townsend, Wisconsin, riding motorcycles, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Nancy was known for her kind spirit, her infectious laugh, and her love of family. She always looked forward to family gatherings, especially ones that upheld tradition; one of her favorites was the annual Christmas sleigh ride and caroling at her brother’s tavern, which she did every year with her sister. Nancy lived with cancer for nine years. She never let this slow her down and she fought with everything to continue enjoying the life and family she loved so much.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 39 years, Robert “Bob” Meurett and her two sons Nicholas and Nathan Meurett, Weston.
Nancy is also survived by her father, Richard Hotchkiss, Stratford; siblings Allen (Linda) Hotchkiss, Barbara Dooley, Dennis (Donna) Hotchkiss, all of Mosinee, Robert (Shelly) Hotchkiss, Larry (Debbie) Hotchkiss, both of Stratford, Donald (Bonnie) Meurett, Thailand, Charlotte (Buzz) Leitzke, Appleton, Debra (Terry) Miller, California, Joan (Mike) Mayer, Hudson, Tammy (Jay) Perrenboom, Green Bay; her many nieces, nephews, and the special children she cared for who touched her life deeper than we can express. She is preceded in death by her mother, Maxine Hotchkiss and brother, Richard “Butch” Hotchkiss.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made as donations to Stand Up To Cancer (https://standuptocancer.org)
Brainard Funeral Home- Everest Chapel is assisting Nancy’s family. To share stories, condolences and photos with her family, please visit www.brainardfuneral.com.
“Like a shooting star flying across the room, so fast, so far, you were gone too soon.”
John Jantsch
John Allen Jantsch, 57, of Wausau passed away on Monday, June 1, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
John was born Feb. 8, 1963, to the late Leonard and Elvera (Krueger) Jantsch. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and his paralegal certification from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was employed as a paralegal for 27 years. He married the love of his life, Karen Strassman, on July 8, 1995, in Athens, Wisconsin.
John enjoyed restoring snowmobiles and was a Ski-Doo historian. One of his hobbies was also collecting authentic Coke machines and memorabilia. John was also a John Deere enthusiast. He loved working on things for his children and spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Jantsch, Wausau; children Hilary (Jordan) Clark, Oshkosh and Garrett (Chelsy) Jantsch, Blaine, Minnesota; grandchildren, Harrison, Zoë, and Jack Clark and Kennedy Jantsch; and his older brother, Charles (Cindy) Jantsch, Athens. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Celebration of John’s life will be held at noon on Saturday, June 13, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson St., Weston. Rev. Lance Hoelscher will officiate. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Online condolences may be shared at www.helke.com.
Delos Winter
Delos Emil Winter, 89, Wausau, died Monday, June 1, 2020, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Delos was born May 7, 1931, in Wausau to the late Emil and Erna (Schuetz) Winter. He faithfully served his country in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. He married Mae Abitz on May 5, 1962, in Wausau and the couple was blessed with three children: Janice, Delmar and Barb. Delos was a dairy farmer in the Wausau area for his entire life.
Delos was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, serving in numerous offices over the years. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards with several groups and family. Delos’s favorite times were always spent with family.
Delos is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mae; children, Janice (Alan) Schulman, Delmar (Tamara) Winter and Barb (Marvin) Behle; grandchildren, Andrew Winter, Logan (Carly) Behle and Rebecca (James) Perrine; great-grandchildren, Kaia, Leiahna and Barrett; sisters, Virginia Olson and Jean Zahrt; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Virginia Bucknell, Arnie (Connie) Abitz and Mona Knight; and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at St. Peter Lutheran Church (238537 Del Rio Road, Wausau, WI 54403). Rev. Russell Kempfer will officiate. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
Face masks are encouraged and social distancing will be observed.
Memorials may be directed to the family for a future charitable donation in Delos’s memory.
Very special appreciation goes to the nurses and staff of the dialysis unit at Aspirus Wausau Hospital for their compassionate care for Delos.
Betty Kruit
Betty Kruit met Jesus face to face on May 31, 2020, and was reunited with her husband, Evert, and son David. She was born Nov. 17, 1941, to Chris and Yvonne Fawley in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
She met the love of her life at age 7 when her sister married Evert’s brother. They started playing house together at that time and were married on Jan. 20, 1962, and continued to play house together for an additional 57 years, until Evert proceeded her in death on Aug. 9, 2019.
Together they raised their family on their farm until 1992 when they moved off the farm. Shortly thereafter, Betty started working for Ken Hamann Insurance Agency at American Family until his retirement. She then was not quite ready for retirement, so she decided to work for Jeff Canniff Agency for “six months.” She ended up staying with him for over 10 years and retired when Jeff retired.
She committed her life to Christ as a young girl and served him and his church faithfully, with the last 40 years at Bethany Baptist Church in Weston. Her love for people was evident to all she encountered. She was quick to listen and to share from the vast wisdom she had gained over her lifetime. One of her many gifts was hospitality. She hosted many family events, church picnics, and if her dining room table of 47 years could talk, it would tell countless tales of delicious meals, conversations, and Rook/card games played on it with family and friends.
Betty’s legacy is the dearly loved family she left behind. She is survived by daughter, Marie (Chris) Steege; and son, Todd (Becky) Kruit; grandchildren, Justin (Hannah) Steege, Brad Steege, Erin (Tom) Klos, Eric (Megan) Steege, Tyler (Chantel) Kruit, and Dillan Kruit. Great grandchildren Harvey, Mavis, and Vivian Steege, Ethan, David, Charlotte, and Marshall Kruit, Josie Steege, and Maxwell Klos. Additionally, she is survived by sisters, Arliss Kruit and Beverly (Robert) Russell; in-laws Helen Froehlich; John and Joyce Kruit, and many nieces and nephews.
She is proceeded in death by her husband, Evert; son, David; her parents; and brothers Alvin and Roland Fawley
A visitation will be held on Friday, June 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 6601 Alderson St., Weston. The family asks that those who are at increased risk to please visit from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Masks are encouraged. All others are welcomed from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Come for a short while or sit, reminisce, and visit with family and friends.
A memorial service will be held the following day, June 6, 111 a.m. at Forestville Cemetery, County Road N, eight miles east of County Road X, in the township of Easton, cemetery on left.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better.
JoAnn Day
JoAnn D. (Tutti) Day, 86 died Saturday, May 30, 2020, at home, where she wanted to be, surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 12, 1933, just short of her 87th birthday.
JoAnn was born and raised in Rothschild, Wisconsin, and told us stories on how she was born so small she fit in a cigar box and warmed in the oven. And she used to tell us many other stories when she was young. JoAnn went to school until the 10th grade and loved being a cheerleader.
JoAnn was a cook for 25 years at D.C. Everest Middle School, and 10 years as a bus monitor for the disabled. JoAnn held many other jobs in her younger days.
JoAnn will be remembered for a loving mother, grandmother, hard worker and great cook. JoAnn was very active in Memory Café, Spark Program at the Leigh Yawkey Art Museum, exercise classes at church, and Homme Home Forest Park Day Service. JoAnn enjoyed watching game shows, playing cards (which she won a lot!), watching Packers games, watching the birds and many animals that visited the yard.
JoAnn truly loved her time up north at Bluegill Lake for the last 54 years. Mom’s last visit was on Memorial weekend. We will miss mom’s many talents of cooking, baking, and teaching us children and grandkids to make potato donuts, pies, delicious peanut bars, Christmas cutout cookies and many other dishes and traditions. Mom loved clothes shopping, and couldn’t pass up a good rummage sale or craft show without stopping.
JoAnn loved spending her time with her great niece Rosie Hanke (Hintze), Rosie taking her to Memory Café once a month, the Spark Program at the Art Museum once a month, and going out to eat. We can’t thank her enough for all the fun and crazy good times JoAnn enjoyed with her. We were blessed to have two granddaughters that have helped their Grandma to stay at home.
We want to thank Nikki Hollander for her two years plus of wonderful times she gave Grandma, helping her with shopping, rummage sales (Mom’s favorite), making meals, cleaning and loving companionship. Grandma always called Nikki her little spitfire.
The family would like to extend their utmost sincere appreciation to granddaughter Jennifer Hollander for her compassion, loving guidance, caring responsibilities, and quality of life given to her grandma for the last three years. We thank you; you truly are our angel in our families’ lives.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents Edward Walter Heinrich and Roselind (Viergutz) Heinrich. Husbands Edward Wiesneske Sr. and John Day. Siblings Marion (Chuck) Hintze, Myron (Alice) Heinrich, Roger (Margie) Heinrich, Barb (Richard) Smith and as well as nieces and nephews.
JoAnn will be sadly missed by her four children Edward (Therese) Wiesneske, Oak Harbor, Washington; Mike (Sue) Wiesneske, Schofield, Wisconsin; Patrick (Tabby Reese) Wiesneske, Denver, Colorado; Cindy (Jeff) Hollander, Merrill, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Because we care about family and friends; face masks will be highly encouraged and social distancing will be observed this Friday.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in JoAnn’s name can be directed to: “Downtown Memory Café”, at First United Methodist Church, 903 Third St., Wausau, WI or Dementia/Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin, 3330 University Ave., Suite 300, Madison, WI 53705.
Public visitation will take place on Friday, June 5, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home, 948 Grand Ave., Schofield, Wisconsin. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.HonorOne.com.
Gary Kurtzweil
If you knew Gary Kurtzweil, a few things immediately come to mind, such as hard-working, doing things right, never sitting still, always helping others, the love he had for his family and the love he had for his church.
Gary was strong in his faith and loved the Lord. He showed his love in everything he did for Holy Name. A small list of his church activities included his countless hours of making SummerFun a yearly success, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Family Life Committee, improving church and school buildings, serving Mass, lecturing, assisting in Healing Masses and perhaps his favorite joy in helping install and maintain their computers.
When he did find free time, Gary enjoyed working in his yard and loved golfing with friends, playing courses throughout the state. He was even able to brag about having a couple of holes-in-one.
Gary was born March 25, 1945, to the late Roman and Helen (Lang) Kurtzweil. He grew up on the family dairy farm in the town of Emmett before they moved to Sparta. Upon graduating from Sparta High School, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
Achieving the rank of Sargent, Gary was honorably discharged and moved to Chicago where he met his future wife, Patricia Rubino. They were married Sept. 9, 1969, at St. Domitillo Catholic Church, Hillside, Illinois. Last September, Gary and Pat celebrated 50 years of marriage. After moving back to Wausau, Gary farmed ginseng with his parents and brothers. For many years, he was a tax preparer for H&R Block and later volunteered for AARP, helping senior citizens and many family and friends with their taxes.
At the age of 75, Gary passed away on Friday, May 8, 2020, at Our House Senior Living, Wausau.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia, four children, Gina (Jon) Schuster, Jon, Craig (Tami), Eric (Jodi), 11 grandchildren, Megan, Jaimie, Jacob, Thomas, Katie and Anthony Schuster, Dominic, Cohler, JennaRae, Paul and Kelly Kurtzweil, three brothers, Wayne (Mary), Jeffrey (Susan), Chrys (Lorie), brother-in-law, Bob Summers, many nieces, nephews and extended family. Gary was further preceded in death by an infant brother, Ronald, two sisters and brother-in-law, Charlene Summers and Carol and Bill Daup.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 1104 S. Ninth Ave., Wausau. Father Sam Martin and Father Robert Thorn will concelebrate Mass. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery with full military rites conducted by the VFW Burns Post #388. Visitation will be Friday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Parish and again on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.
Because we care about family and friends, face masks will be highly encouraged and social distancing will be observed on Friday and Saturday.
For those wishing to view Gary’s service via livestream, please go to the bottom of Gary’s obituary at helke.com. Livestreaming will begin at 10:50 a.m.
We would like to thank the staff at Aspirus Hospice and Our House Senior Living for their care and kindness they gave Gary and our family during his stay.
