Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home & Cremation Center, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Merlin Stahel
Merlin Herbert Stahel, 87, Marathon, passed away Aug. 13, 2020, at Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau, Wisconsin.
He was born March 28, 1933, to the late Reinhart and Viola (Langhoff) Stahel in the town of Stettin. He attended school in Marathon and then was employed as a farm hand at the late Arnold Goetsch farm in the town of Stettin. He was drafted into the armed service in 1953. He served there for two years, including 16 months in North Korea. In 1955 he was discharged. On June 25, 1955, he married Jean Ione Tesch. He was employed locally until 1956 when he moved his family to Milwaukee where he worked in maintenance at a tannery for 10 years. In 1966, upon the death of his father, he purchased the homestead farm from his mother. He, his wife and children farmed dairy and ginseng until 1998. He then retired from farming, raised beefers and worked in maintenance at the Eastbay Distribution Center part time until his wife, Jean, passed away March 30, 2008. He then spent his time doing what he enjoyed all his life, tending to some hobby cattle, fishing, hunting, playing cards and attending Polka dances. He was also a lifelong member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, town of Stettin, where he served on the church board and was also a member of the choir and brotherhood for many years. He was also an active member of the Alois Driekosen post No. 469 American Legion.
Survivors include one son Gerald (Carrie Salyers) Stahel, Schofield, three daughters, Roxanne (Chuck) Kaiser, Robin (Steven) Bloom and Renee (Paul) Mucha, all of Marathon; nine grandchildren, Jason (Angela) Stahel, Jamie (Chris Ziegel) Weiler, Jeremy (Pam) Stahel, Kurt (Pam) Behnke, Derek (Heather) Behnke, Andrew (Kelly) Bloom, Amy (Julio) Cruz, Luke (Alanie) Mucha, and Skye Mucha; two stepgrandchildren Cody (Montana) Salyers and Samantha Salyers; 14 great-grandchildren, Shynia, Cheyanne and Dakota Stahel, Cody (Ryleigh Dahlke) and Caylee Weiler, Carlie, Kyson, Keiarra and Kale Stahel, Marcos and Andres Cruz, Avery Bloom, Ali Behnke, Levi Mucha; five stepgreat grandchildren, Gwendolyn,Thea and Cora Salyers, Haley and Rayme Burns. One brother, Melvin Stahel, Marathon; two sisters, Lois Hermans, Marathon, Verna Baneck, Schofield; one brother-in-law Ray Teske, Wausau; many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his social companion of many years Carol Uekert.
Besides his beloved wife Jean, he was preceded in death by his parents, Reinhart and Viola, his grandson Beau Mucha, sisters, Lydia Werner, Selma Evers, Leona Teske, Esther Mohr; brother, Norman Stahel; brothers in-law, Alvin Werner, William Evers, Joseph Mohr, Gary Hermans, Walter Baneck and sisters-in-law Clair Stahel and Jeanette Stahel.
A Private Family Funeral Service will be Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.,Trinity Evangelical Church, town of Stettin. Burial will follow in Stettin Christian Cemetery, where full military honors will be conducted by the Alois Dreikosen Post No. 469. Public visitation will be held Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon. Current social distancing and masking guidelines will be practiced. There will be a luncheon for family and friends at the Stahel family farm following burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, town of Stettin. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
The family would like to thank everyone at Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the wonderful care and compassion they gave Merlin.
Erma Singstock
Erma R. Singstock, 93, died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
She was born July 29, 1927, daughter of the late Frank and Adelia (Schneider) Mellenthin.
A memorial service at Zion Lutheran Church will be live streamed at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, on Facebook, or for later viewing at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Ethel Thurs
Ethel Irene Thurs, 87, Wausau, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at Mountain Terrace Senior Living under the care of Interim HealthCare Hospice.
Ethel was born May 20, 1933, in the town of Frankfort to the late August and Albina (Loskot) Giese. She married Eugene Thurs on July 3, 1954, and the couple were blessed with two sons, Randy and Jim. Ethel began working for Marathon Electric before transitioning to homemaking and housekeeping with Howard Johnsons, Wausau Motor Sports and Schmidt’s Ballroom and later quality control with Bard Home Health. After 25 loving years together, Eugene died May 6, 1980.
Ethel was a good mother known for her wonderful cooking and baking, especially her apple pies. In her early years, she was a very good bowler and always loved polka dancing. Ethel enjoyed being a member of the Trailmates Snowmobile Club for 50 years. She also had a great love of her various puppies through the years and bird watching on her deck in her later years. To her friends and coworkers from Schmidt’s Ballroom she will always be known at “E.T. in her PT” Cruiser.
Ethel is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Randy (Faith) and Jim (Karen) and extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her siblings, Ruth Ziegel, LaVerna Blanchard and Leonard Giese.
Friends may visit with the family and pay their respects to Ethel from 10 a.m. until noon on Monday, Aug. 17, at Helke Funeral Home. Following the visitation, Ethel will be brought to Maple Grove Cemetery for committal beside her husband, Eugene. Pr. Justin Smoot will officiate. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
Ethel’s family wishes to extend their deepest thanks and appreciation to the staff of Mountain Terrace Senior Living and Interim HealthCare Hospice for their compassionate care for Ethel.
Thomas Williams
Thomas “Tom” Williams passed peacefully on Aug. 11, 2020, under the special care of The House of the Dove Hospice.
Tom loved fishing, hunting, hiking, camping or anything available outdoors. Often, he could be seen taking a stroll even in the middle of winter. He always sent a sparkle toward everyone he met. Most of all – Tom enjoyed spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. His other passions included building improvements and remodeling his new home.
He is survived by children Ashley Williams, Andrew Williams, Jacob Williams (Elizabeth Gajewski), Johnny Williams; and five grandchildren, Ashton, Parker, Paityn, Jayden and Skyler.
Tom’s siblings will greatly miss his presence – JoAnn (Bob) Van Sleet, Gary (Rebecca) Williams, Sandra (Geoff) Groshek, Keith (Christine) Williams, Donald (Beth) Williams, Ann (Steve) Osborne, Patrick, Sr (Trish McDonald) Williams.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Josephine Williams and grandparents Orban and Josephine Opichka and James and Gertrude Williams.
As per Tom’s wishes – no services are pending. There will be a private family memorial.
Rest in the eternal light – father, grandfather, brother and good friend.
