Arlene Winter

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Arlene Frances (Tillis) Winter on September 25, 2026 at her home in Weston Wisconsin at the age of 64 due to a sudden stroke.

She was born on October 25, 1961, in Clinton Iowa, she was the 7th of 9 children of John and LaVonne Tillis. Arlene spent her first years on a loving family farm in Sabula Iowa and later spent many years living on a beautiful farm in Loran Illinois near the town of Pearl City Illinois. Arlene often spoke of the fun times on that farm with all the kids, playing in the stream, camping with her friends in the back 40, and riding her bike on the steeply graded gravel road. She graduated from Pearl City High School in 1979 and Northern Illinois University in 1985 with a Masters of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. Initially working for several northern Illinois school systems, she then went into private practice. Arlene had an enormous passion for helping children with their speech and swallowing difficulties and was a blessing to many families she worked with. After moving to the Wausau Wisconsin area in 2006 she contracted her services with the Birth to 3 Program, traveling to provide speech services all over Marathon, Lincoln, and Langlade counties until she retired in early 2018.

Arlene and Eric met in 1987 and fell in love, getting married in 1991 in Freeport, Illinois. She was a devoted mother to her two sons: Craig Winter and Jared Winter, and stepdaughter Erica Winter. She had talents in many things including cooking and sewing (which she learned from her mother) and spent many hours on the phone with Craig passing down her culinary expertise to him. She sewed prom dresses for Erica, banners and things at church, as well as clothing for herself and mending. She is survived by her husband Eric, sons: Craig and Jared (Emma) Winter, stepdaughter Erica (Ryan) Winter, mother LaVonne Tillis, mother-in-law Virginia Winter, sisters Alice (Jeff) Kempel and Anne Frey, sister-in-laws Debbie (Dennis) Tillis, Adrienne Mooney, and Lauri Winter, brothers Dean (Debra), David (Carla), and Dale (Deanna) Tillis, granddaughters Madison and Samantha Coleman, great-granddaughter Ariella Lewis, our latest addition grandson baby Bromie Winter, and loved by 15 nieces and nephews and 20 great nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by her father John (Jack) Tillis, father-in-law Henry Winter, brothers Dan (Sharon) and Dennis Tillis, sister Angie Canner, and brother in laws Mark Frey and Kirk Winter.

Arlene specifically did not want a funeral, preferring a Celebration of Life! So, her celebration memorial service will be held on October 10th 2026 at Peace United Church of Christ in Schofield Wisconsin with visitation starting at 9:00am followed by a service at 11:00am and a delicious luncheon following the service.

Additionally, there will be another Celebration of Life on October 25th at 1:00pm at the Freeport Club in Freeport, Illinois for her friends and family in northern Illinois. Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and some beverages provided.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has asked that donations be made in Arlene’s name to The Women’s Community of Wausau or the United Way of Wausau WI or Freeport IL.