Jack Elroy Horak
Jack Elroy Horak, age 83, of Wausau died on Thursday, August 20, 2020.
Jack was born on March 30, 1937 to the late George and Emma (Deischel) Horak. As a boy, Jack worked at Camp Tesomas Boy Scout camp while earning his Eagle Scout, at his father’s Texaco gas station, and at his aunt and uncle’s drive in root beer stand. After graduating from Wausau High School in 1955, Jack then joined the National Guard to support himself through college at Michigan Tech where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Forestry. He married his first wife, Wendy Pauline (Gay) Horak, in 1962 in Washington. Together they would have two sons, Richard and Christopher. Jack would continue his military career by joining the United States Army Reserves. Throughout his career, Jack commanded the 213th engineering/finance/service and supply unit in Wausau. He then went on to command the 633rd Combat Support Battalion aka the Blue Ox Battalion. Some of Jack’s biggest accomplishments during his career were earning the Legion of Merit Medal and becoming a full Colonel. He retired from the United States Army Reserves in 1992, after 39 years of service. During this time, he also owned and operated Horak’s Automotive. Throughout the years, he worked with the automotive apprentice program at NTC and the Wausau school district mentoring many future auto technicians. He was a member of the Retail Gasoline Dealers Association, Man of Honor and American Legion. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing at the family cabin and took several fishing trips to Canada with friends.
He is survived by his son Christopher (Jessica Schade) Horak, granddaughter Amy Horak, daughter-in-law Solange Fuentes, sister Judith (Bill) Noren, nephew Kurt (Patty) Usowski, Niece Kristen(Ben) Tang, cousins Kathy (John) Waller and David (deceased) and Ruth Horak, special friend Carole Janik, and ex-wife Wendy Horak
Besides his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his son Richard Horak and ex-wife Joelle Metcalf.
Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams St., Wausau, with military honors to follow. The service will be available tow watch via livestream. The Rev. Rick Goff will officiate. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s name may be directed to the Marathon County Humane Society or your favorite charity.
Mary Lou (Wishowski) Theilig
Mary Lou (Boots) Theilig, age 87, of the town of Stettin, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at Rennes Health and Rehabilitation Center, Weston.
She was born on September 26, 1932, in Ladysmith, WI, daughter of the late Frank and Gretchen (Davies) Wishowski. She married Eugene Theilig on June 30,1951 in Hawkins, WI. He preceded her in death on July 7, 1990.
Mary Lou, more affectionately called “Boots”, worked as a reinsurance underwriter for Wausau Insurance for over 25 years. In addition to working fulltime, Boots always found ways to stay busy while raising four children. She was a den mom when her sons were in scouting. She loved to read and garden, as well as bake and sew with four children at home. When the children left home, her passion became quilting and doing volunteer work for her church. Boots was a devoted wife and mother and she will be missed by the entire family.
Survivors include her four children, Kim (Lynn) Theilig of Weston, Gail Benyacine of Katy, TX, Randy (Dianne) Theilig of Fulshear, TX, and Michael (Karen) Theilig of Merrill; six grandchildren, Kristen, Jeffrey, Jonathan, Carla, Alex, and Amber; and 9 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eugene, brother, Lee Wishowski, and sister, Patt Hahn-Jennerman.
Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, August 31, 2020, at Covenant Community Presbyterian Church, 1806 Weston Ave., Schofield. Rev. Jim Gates will officiate. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of service on Monday at the church.
Brainard Funeral Home – Everest Chapel, Weston is assisting the family with arrangements. You may leave condolences for her family at brainardfuneral.com. Donations can be made to Covenant Community Presbyterian Church in lieu of flowers.
Viola Alice (Voight) Banik
Viola A. Banik, 97, of Wausau, Wisconsin died on August 21, 2020 at Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau.
Viola Alice Voight Banik was born on November 12, 1922 in the township of Easton to Walter and Alice Ruenger Voight and grew up on the family farm. On December 7, 1940 she married Arnold Banik at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Easton.
Viola was a long-time member of Zion Lutheran Church and later on a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church where she and her husband Arnold served on the original building committee. At Christ Lutheran she was active in the Altar and Ladies Guilds.
In her teenage years she worked as a domestic for various families and after marriage she stayed home to raise her children. Having to go back to work later in life, Viola was employed by North Central Healthcare for eight years, Wausau Library for seven years, and various other positions assigned to her by the Senior Aid Program of Wausau. Through this program she made many lifelong friends.
Viola was a wonderful mother who enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing, and gardening – she loved her flowers. She used her skills to teach others as a 4-H leader. She became an avid reader later in life, well into her nineties.
She enjoyed many Sunday afternoon rides with her husband Arnold and family through the Wisconsin countryside. One of her fondest memories is the 1991 trip she took with her daughter Carol and son Todd to England and Scotland, a 70th birthday gift from her children.
Survivors include her children Carol Krinke of Blaine, MN, Susan Jauernig (Carl) of Wausau, David of Neenah, Mark (Jenny) of Madison, and Todd of Santa Fe, NM. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Victoria (Erich) Young; Wendy (Scott) Zippwald; Timothy (Kristin) Jauernig; Megan (Brian) Gerl; Eric Banik; Tenley, Steven, Nyah, Taryn, and Averie Banik; five great-grandchildren: Tyler and Jensen Jauernig; Cooper and Caden Zippwald; and Maxwell Young; and one great great grandchild, Cayde Koske, son of Tyler Jauernig. Also surviving are stepsister Selma (Clarence) Miessner of Edgar, half-sister Rosella (Delbert) Paulman of Madison, half-brothers Norman Voight of Peoria, AZ and Daniel Voight (Cindy) of Wisconsin Rapids, sister-in-law Fern Banik of Wausau, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold, her parents, sisters Ethel Drews and Doris Felhaber, brothers Meldon and Leonard Voight, stepsister Mildred Beck, half-sister Iona Schalow, stepmother Helena Voight, sister-in-laws Harriet Voight and Ruth Prahl, son-in-law Arden Krinke, daughter-in-law Linda Banik, and half-brother David Voight of Glendale, AZ.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday August 27, 2020 at Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Townline Road, Wausau, WI 54403. Pastor David Wetmore will officiate. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of service at the church on Thursday. There will be a private entombment at Restlawn Memorial Park following the service. Memorials in Viola’s name can be directed to Christ Lutheran Church. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.brainardfuneral.com, where after the service, a video recording of the funeral will be available for viewing by anyone unable to attend in person. Brainard Funeral Home – Wausau Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donald J. Curtis
Donald James Curtis, age 79, of Wausau, died on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Donald was born in Brownville, New York on April 6, 1941 to the late James and Ruth (Dunaway) Curtis. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy from 1960-1968. Donald married Joan Pierce Hendrick in Watertown, NY on April 28, 1973.
Donald is survived by his wife Joan Curtis; step daughter Barbara (Hendrick) Hack of Marathon; stepsons Paul (Maria) Hendrick of Merrill and Ronald (Marion) Hendrick of St. Germain; step grandchildren Charles (Kiley) Hendrick, Veronica (Mike) Spahn, Jessica (Ryan) Baguhn, Veronica Hack, Magic (Nate) Kieper and Misty Collis; step great grandchildren Reed Hendrick, Belicia Spahn, Mariella Spahn, Elijah Spahn, Ezra Baguhn, Scott Kieper, Saylor Kieper and Amado Collis; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Donald was preceded in death by 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
Visitation will take place from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams St., Wausau with a private family service to follow. Because we care about our family and friends masks and social distancing will be required.
Bette Kainz
Bette Kainz, 53, of Medford passed away at her daughter Brianna’s home, on Saturday, August 22, 2020 surrounded by family and friends.
She was born January 16, 1967 in Ladysmith to the late Roxie (Stout) Wester and Dennis Lelm of Glen Flora, WI. After graduating from Bruce High School, she attended Northcentral Technical College becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. For many years she worked in Post Surgical Care at Wausau Hospital. Bette loved her job and had to leave her career early due to her lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. On May 26, 2001, Bette married Douglas Kainz in Ladysmith. They made their home in Medford.
Bette was an animal lover and enjoyed her cats and dog, Benji. Some of her past times included going to garage sales, canning vegetables, gardening and helping sell tickets at several Edgar sporting events. Two of her favorites were taking random car rides with Douglas and teaching her girls, Brianna and Bethany how to embroider.
Survivors include her husband, Douglas of Medford, father, Dennis Lelm of Glen Flora, Step-Father, Bryce Wester of Bruce, two daughters, Brianna Pelch of Wausau, Bethany Zellner of Edgar, sister, Bonnie (Mike) Tully of Spring Valley, brother, Mike Lelm of Oregon and two step brothers, David (Heidi) Sepanski and Brad (Angie) Sepanski all of Glen Flora.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Roxie Wester and two sisters, Beverly and Tracey Lelm.
Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Highland Community Church, 1005 N. 28th Ave., Wausau. Pastor Duane Hamilton will officiate. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services. Face masks are required and social distancing will occur. Services will be livestreamed beginning at 1:50 p.m. and may be viewed at the bottom of Bette’s obituary on www.helke.com.
Sylvia Jean Held
Sylvia Jean (Hardt) Held, age 82, peacefully passed away on August 17, 2020, with her children by her side. Sylvia was born December 27, 1937 to Ervin and Margaret (Heidmann) Hardt. She graduated from Athens High School. Sylvia married Ernest Held July, 1956, and they enjoyed many years up north until Ernest’s death in 2001. Sylvia worked for Wausau Insurance for 36 years, retiring in 1995.
Sylvia will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful person, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, who enjoyed birds, flowers, collecting tea pots, casino penny machines, playing in pool league (through winter of 2019), baking goodies for the many gatherings she attended, and above all spending time with family and friends.
Sylvia is survived by her children; Deb (Ray) Luoma of Virginia, MN and Randy (Bonnie) Held of Mosinee; 8 cherished grandchildren, Eric (Hailey) Luoma of Chisago City, MN; Daniel (Alicia) Luoma of Seattle, WA; Matthew (Sara) Luoma of Eveleth, MN; Mike (Hyelim) Luoma of Seattle, WA; Emily (Greg) Gorski of Hatley; Julie (Dan) Wildeck of Weston; Ross Held of Hatley; and Lisa (Jim) Leitermann of Rothschild; and 15 great-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter due in November. She is also survived by sisters, Sharon (Kevin) Fitzgerald of Rosebud, MO, and JoAnn Held of Rockford, IL. She is survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. She is also survived by Special friend, Rich Wojtalewicz and his family.
Besides her parents and husband Ernest, she was proceeded in death by siblings; Ray, Elaine, and Russell.
At Sylvia’s request, there will be no formal gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family would request memorial gifts to the Ronald McDonald House of Madison, 2716 Marshall Court, Madison, WI 53705 or through www.rmhcmadison.org/donate; or the Humane Society of Marathon County 7001 Packer Dr. Wausau.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at Aspirus Hospice House in Wausau, where she enjoyed the last few days of her life visiting with friends and family and watching the birds and various wildlife outside her window.
Also, thank you to Dr. Elvis Peter, for the care, kindness, concern and compassion shown to Sylvia. The family will be forever grateful.
Patricia Ann Ohlsen
Patricia Ann Ohlsen, 87 of Schofield passed away unexpectantly on August 17, 2020 at her home. She was born to Nicklaus and Ruby (Suttner) Hansson on November 19, 1932 in Tomahawk Wisconsin. On October 24, 1953 she was united in marriage to William M Ohlsen at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Tomahawk Wisconsin. He sadly passed away on May 3, 2005.
She is survived by her three loving daughters Jill (Rodney) Meydam, Schofield, Kim (Bruce) Quednow, Wausau, Lynn (Kurt) Bennett, Wausau and sister-in-laws Marie Salsieder, Rothschild and Genevieve Hansson California, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband William, two brothers and one sister.
Mom loved to sew and you could be assured that anything she made would last forever. She sewed the wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses for her daughters’ weddings and countless articles of clothing for her daughters and the grandchildren. She had a special talent for cooking and baking and it showed in everything she made. She and dad loved to travel. We had enjoyable family vacations every year, going to national parks, Mexico, California to visit family or meeting the relatives half way at Yellowstone National Park. After we kids were out on our own they were able to go to Hawaii and they would spend many late winters down in Arkansas living in their travel trailer for 6-8 weeks catching up with their down south camping friends. A special trip she was able make was to Sweden with her brother and sister-in-law to visit the place her father was born and meet the Swedish relatives.
She was a faithful member of St Therese Catholic Church for 60 plus years and her Catholic faith was very important to her.
Graveside services for the family will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mosinee on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 10 am with Father Albert officiating.
John J. Buettgen Funeral Home is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at HonorOne.com
