Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Richard “Dick” Gray
Richard “Dick” W. Gray, 76, Wausau, formerly of Athens, died Thursday, June 18, 2020, at Applegate Terrace, Wausau.
He was born Oct. 23, 1943, in Platteville, Wisconsin, son of the late Curtis “Bud” and Myrna (Altenburg) Gray. On July 3, 1999, he married Lynn Wilson at St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church, Edgar. She preceded him in death on March 31, 2011.
Dick was a veteran of the United States Army.
A longtime executive in the steel industry, Dick retired from Wausau Steel to spend time with his family and to travel.
Some of Dick’s favorite pastimes were wine-making, cooking, traveling and playing golf. During his travels, he would collect cruets and countless treasures he cherished. Dick loved his humorous T-shirts and knick knacks that family and friends would gift him.
Survivors include two daughters, Christine (Walter Koller) Waldron and their daughter, Cora of Westfield, NJ and Elizabeth (Andrew) Jaskulski and their daughter, Averey of Waukesha; and two stepdaughters, Laura (Mike) Riebe and their daughter, Madison of Woodbury, Minnesota, and Jennifer (Scott) Cornelius and their sons, Caleb (Sheng) and Joshua of Mosinee; and one brother, Tom (Paula) Gray of Sun Prairie.
Besides his parents and wife, Lynn, he was preceded in death by one son-in-law, Joe Waldron.
Visitation begins at noon with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau. Rev. Gail Sowell will officiate. Entombment will be in the Veterans Section at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Kronenwetter, with full military honors conducted by the American Legion Montgomery Plant Dudley Post No. 10, Wausau.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church, Edgar.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Carol Stevenson
Carol A. Stevenson passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 20, 2020, after a short battle with cancer.
Carol was born Dec. 16, 1945, in Wausau, daughter of the late Alvin and Esther (Draeger) Pilgrim. Carol worked at Runkel Abstract & Title Co., in Wausau, since 1997. She moved back to the area in 1995 after living in Colorado and Michigan.
Carol was generous with her time and volunteered in many capacities. She had many roles within the Trinity Lutheran Church community. She was a hospice volunteer, a Relay for Life volunteer, and spent years as hairdresser and manicurist for friends and family.
Carol was full of sunshine; she was kind, warm, full of life, very social and so often the light in the room. She was happy and made others happy with a positive energy that was contagious. She was mischievous with an adventurous spirit. Stories of Carol young and wild, and those of her not-so-young and still-a-little-wild, are entertaining and enduring. She loved ice cream and potato chips, usually together; playing cards at cousin Mike’s “We House” on Friday nights, the color purple; and the beaches of Redington Beach, Florida. She travelled her entire life, recently by herself to Iceland, and nearly annually on family “pilgrimages” to all parts of Europe with cousins Diana and Donna.
Survivors include Carol’s two brothers and their families: Marvin and Mary Jane Pilgrim, their two daughters Rebecca (Michael) Tylinski and children Sofia and Frederick; and Katrina (Dean) Thurs and daughter Ruby. Eugene and Janice Pilgrim, their three children Ryan (Melissa) Pilgrim and children Madisyn, Aliyah and Treyton; Carrie (Evan) Haehlke and children Hunter, Alyvia and Ayva; and Nicole (Jeffrey) Schneider and children Mayven and Brayson.
Carol is further survived by many close cousins and friends including special friends, Rev. Zach and Katrina Holdorf and their children Jack, Avery and Mackenzie; and special traveling companion, Sue TerMaat.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Richard Stevenson and great-nephew Leo John Thurs.
The family is grateful for the quality of Carol’s care, and the kindness of the in-home nurse and therapists, and the doctors and nurses of the oncology departments at UW Wisconsin Cancer Center and Aspirus of Wausau.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau. Rev. Zach Holdorf will officiate. Burial will be in the Edgar Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar, and again on Thursday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Kenneth Bjerke
Kenneth A. “Ken” Bjerke, 97, of Wausau, formerly of Streamwood, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at The Bay at Colonial Manor, Wausau.
He was born March 20, 1923, in Williston, North Dakota, son of the late Edward and Agnette (Erickson) Bjerke. On Jan. 20, 1945, he married Lillian Seuffer in Corpus Christi, Texas. They met in Chicago at a Serviceman’s dance while Ken was in the U.S. Navy. Lillian preceded him in death in September of 1999.
Ken was an engineer for Zenith and Motorola for many years. Some of his favorite pastimes included being a Boy Scout leader, coaching youth baseball, playing chess and the violin and later attending the Edgar Steam Engine Show.
Ken proudly served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and Korea and as a reservist. One of his happier later moments was going on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight with his grandson Dave and granddaughter Carol.
Survivors include his children, Susan (Joel) Twerberg, Edgar, Scott (Kathy) Bjerke, Denver, his grandchildren, Carol Twerberg, David (Andrea) Twerberg and Eric Twerberg, three great grandchildren, Paulina, Kristoffer and Nicholas and one great-great grandson Dezmin, nieces Bev, Bonnie and Caroline and nephew Kent.
Besides his wife he was preceded in death by his brother, Edwin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Ken’s name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Rosalie Brehmer
Rosalie M. Brehmer, 90, of Wausau passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at Copperleaf Assisted Living of Schofield.
She was born on March 2, 1930, in Wausau to the late Erwin and Meta (Haese) Fust. Rosalie worked at F.W. Woolworth and also cleaned businesses and people’s homes. She married William “Bill” Brehmer in Wausau at St. Stephen Lutheran Church on Nov. 14, 1953.
Rosalie enjoyed traveling to Branson, Missouri, and to area church picnics for Polka music.
Survivors include children, Sandra (David) Baldridge of Appleton and Kenneth (Chris) Brehmer of Wausau; grandchildren, Kimberly Baldridge, Michael Brehmer, and Ryan Brehmer; sisters, Gladys Price, Adeline Fust, Janet Fust, and Evelyn Wadzinski; and brothers, Erwin Fust Jr. and Elroy Fust.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Brehmer; parents, Erwin and Meta Fust; and sisters, Alice Mogenson and Joyce Fust.
A funeral service will be at noon on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, with Pastor Ken Moberg officiating. Family and friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. until the time of service. Entombment will be in Restlawn Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, town of Texas.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
Because we care about family and friends, face masks are recommended and social distancing will be observed. Seating during the service will be limited by household social distancing.
Raymond Wodora
Raymond J Wodora, 88, Hatley, died Saturday, June 20, 2020, at his home surrounded by his family.
Raymond was born on Aug. 22, 1931, in the town of Reid, the son of the late John and Mary (Glapinski) Wodora.
Raymond proudly served his country during the Korean War as a Truck Master with the United States Army, building airstrips.
After leaving the military, Raymond worked at various jobs. He hauled bricks out of the old Ringle Brick Yard, delivered lumber, and even built swimming pools for a while, but he spent most of his life self-employed doing a job he truly loved, building houses. Raymond will be remembered throughout the community for the many beautiful homes he built. He was not just a builder, but a true craftsman.
Raymond enjoyed spending time with his family, helping others, feeding birds and squirrels in his yard, hunting and fishing, especially, ice fishing.
Raymond is survived by two sons, Dennis (Bonnie Thorson) Wodora, Ringle and Richard (Candy) Wodora, Hatley; a daughter, Kristy (Brian) Grulkowski, Hatley; four grandchildren, Wayne Wodora, Elena (Scott) Postelnik, Richard Wodora Jr. and Cody Grulkowski; one sister, Geraldine (Benedict) Kaminski and one brother, Ambrose (Florence) Wodora.
In addition to his parents, Raymond was preceded in death by his ex-wife and mother of his children, Eleanor Bensley, brother, Wallace and sister, Evelyn Grabko.
No public service will be held at this time. The family asks that each of you who knew Raymond remember him in your own special way.
