helke/brainard
Obituaries are a community service courtesy of Helke and Brainard Funeral Homes.

Phyliss M. Ament

Phyliss Ament, 91, of Wausau, passed away February 3, 2024.

She was born November 28, 1932, in the Town of Easton to parents George and Hazel (Mortenson) Mogensen. She lived in Easton on the family farm until she was 16 when she moved to Wausau. She met Raymond Ament at the Rothschild roller rink, and they were married June 27, 1953. To this union was born three children.

Phyliss loved to bake, so much so, that she found a career at Wausau Insurance in the kitchen. At Christmas time, she baked 147 dozen cookies for their holiday parties. She loved going up north to the family cottage where she enjoyed sitting and watching the lake and reading. Phyliss also quilted at St. Stephen Lutheran Church where the ladies made quilts that were then sent to Lutheran World Relief. She also enjoyed working in the kitchen at church and caring for her husband’s aunt at Harmony House. She and Ray had a garden and enjoyed canning their vegetables and fruit. She even made jelly and relish. Phyliss will always be remembered by her family for her cinnamon rolls, pizza, and apple kuchen.

Phyliss is survived by her children, Beverly (Richard) Zyduck of Prescott, WI and Lyle (Caroline) Ament of Rib Mountain; grandchildren, Libby (Aaron) Harker of Roberts, WI, Marissa (Patrick) Sawyer of Cincinnati, OH, Nathan (Elizabeth) Zyduck of Charlotte, NC, Noah Zyduck of Prescott, WI, Dan (Danielle) Ament of Lake Linden, MI, Kari (Thomas Butler) Ament of Wausau, Kayla Ament of Wausau, and Ryan (Samantha) Warner of Mosinee; great-grandchildren, Frances, Joey, AJ, and Richie Harker, Beau and Vivian Zyduck, Kaydance and Ezale Elizondo, Kyra and Kamea Butler, and Emma Warner; siblings, Arlene (Oliver) Hoppe, Charlotte (Jerry) Bown, and Karen Frye; sisters-in-law, Nancy Mogensen and Katy Anderson; and brother-in-law, Jim Boerner.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Ament and son, Randy Ament.

A funeral service for Phyliss will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 12:00 pm at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 512 McClellan Street, Wausau with a visitation beginning at 10:30 am until the time of service. Rev. Karoline Schwantes will officiate. Phyliss will be laid to rest at Pine Grove Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the church quilting group.

Our family wishes to thank the staff at Primrose and Aspirus Hospice for their care and compassion.


Thomas C. Scott

Thomas C. Scott, passed away on January 31, 2024, after a five-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia which included a bone marrow transplant, three and a half years of morphological remission, and two relapses within that time. Tom was born on January 11, 1973, in Wausau. Tom touched and inspired the lives of all who knew him with his loving nature, zest for life, and his “never give up” attitude. 

After spending his early childhood years in Wausau, Tom moved to Modesto, CA, with his family only to return to his hometown during his senior year of high school. He transferred from Modesto High to Wausau West where he met some of his lifelong friends. It was also in Wisconsin where he would encounter the serendipitous meeting that would shape the course of his life. Tom met his soulmate, Amy Scott, at a part-time job they shared at T-Mart, a local grocery store, where their love blossomed and even shared their first kiss. Tom proposed on June 6, 1994, and they married May 13, 1995. 

An avid sports enthusiast, Tom found great joy in engaging in various athletic activities throughout his life. He thrived on the football field during his high school years. He particularly cherished playing softball and golf with his friends in Wisconsin. His love of softball began earlier in life when he played on a co-ed church team with his mom in California. Tom continued his love for softball which he introduced to his son, Nick, who later took over the team they played on together. Through softball, life-long memories were made on the diamond. For 15 consecutive years, he was undefeated in the annual ‘girls versus guys’ 4th of July badminton tournament, establishing a remarkable record of 171 wins and 0 losses. Tom also bonded with loved ones through memorable games of driveway basketball. In the past few years, Tom found solace on the golf course again, embracing the challenge and camaraderie the sport provided. While Tom was not playing sports himself, he embraced cheering for the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Braves. 

Known for his unwavering commitment to his family, Tom was a dedicated and involved father, always making it a priority to attend his children’s events. Whether cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines, coaching little league and EYFL, or embracing being a dance dad, his presence was a constant source of love and support. He even participated in the dad’s dance at Alyssa’s recitals. Tom’s determination and strength were evident in his hardworking nature at Foremost Farms which then became Kerry Ingredients for the past 29 years; he took pride in tirelessly providing for his family and never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those around him. 

In his pursuit of creating cherished memories, his enthusiasm knew no bounds. Some of his cherished memories included time spent up north with his hunting buddies, a special family vacation to Chicago, and anything involving his children. Most recently, he enjoyed a weekend away with Amy at The Alex Dove Nest Foundation cabin. Taking leisurely walks with his soulmate, Amy, and their faithful pug, Rocky, became moments of reflection and deep connection. 

Tom’s compassionate nature resonated deeply within him. His unwavering support for his loved ones and his ability to make everyone around him feel seen and heard was truly remarkable. His strong-willed personality and unmatched sense of humor brought joy to all who had the privilege of knowing him. 

Tom’s love for family extended beyond his immediate household, specifically during holiday gatherings whether it be at his parents’ or his in-laws’ home for joyful get-togethers. He embraced the simplicity of life, whether it be floating in a pool with Amy while listening to music, finding the perfect bench to sit at in a park with Amy, conversations over cups of coffee with Alyssa, going to Nick and Emily’s for weekly dinners, or engaging in competitive game nights, with Phase 10 and Cross Cribbage being particular favorites. 

Tom will be dearly missed by his beloved wife, Amy Scott; his cherished children, Alyssa Scott and Nick (Emily Wisotzke) Scott; parents, Wayne and Chris Scott; brothers, Jeff (Amber), Jeremy (Heather), and Mike (Jennifer), sister-in-law, Cheryl (John) Peacy; nephews and niece, Jason (Jody) Butterfield, Jasmyne Scott, and Easton Scott; faithful pug, Rocky; and #TeamTomScott supporters. The memory of his compassion, love, and zest for life will forever live on in the hearts of his loved ones. He is preceded in death by his in-laws, Herb and Nancy Sliwicki. 

Visitation to celebrate Tom will be held Friday, February 9 from 5pm-8pm at Brainard Funeral Home- Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston. Visitation will continue Saturday, February 10 from 10am-12pm at Covenant Community Presbyterian Church, 1806 Weston Avenue, Schofield. A funeral service will begin at 12:00pm at the church with a luncheon to follow. 

Alyssa and Nick wish to thank their mom, Amy, for her unwavering love, support and care for Tom. The entire family wishes to thank #TeamTomScott for their encouragement and support these past five years; and Dr. Ryan Mattison, Dr. Chris Peterson, Dr. Hamied Rezazadeh and the Aspirus Oncology nursing staff for their excellent care. The UW Health Carbone Cancer Center and Aspirus Cancer Center for aiding in Tom’s treatment. The staff at Best Western Inntowner in Madison. And Sebastian, Tom’s bone marrow donor from Germany who gave us a Christmas miracle in being a perfect match which gave his loved ones five additional years of unforgettable memories. We could not have done this without any of you.


Leon L. Pontzloff

Leon L. Pontzloff, 85, Rothschild, died Thursday, February 1, 2024 at his home.

He was born July 29, 1938 in Wausau, son of the late John and Olga (Fust) Pontzloff.

Leon was employed by Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork for many years.  He was an avid football fan and loved watching the Green Bay Packers.

Survivors include his sister, LouAnn Tesch, nieces and nephews, Cindy, Craig, Brenda and Shawn and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Delno (Delores) Pontzloff, brother-in-law, William Tesch and niece, Candie.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, February 23, 2024 at Saint Paul United Church of Christ, Wausau.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of the memorial service at the church.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com