Stacy Lynn Vergin

Stacy Lynn Vergin, 65, of Wausau, after a long battle with lung and thyroid cancer, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, in the company of loved ones.

She was born on May 14, 1959, to the late William and Julie (Kettunen) Rhyner, as the youngest of three children. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Mark) Henricks, grandchildren Will and Ada, sister Peggy (Bill) Forrest, brother Joel (Jean) Rhyner, and nieces Betsy (Adam) and Debi (Isaac) and their children.

Stacy grew up in the Wausau area and graduated from D.C. Everest High School in 1977. She was an old soul - a beautiful, intelligent, quiet and talented woman, gifted in visual arts; she was remembered for her skill in acrylic painting in high school (something she often lamented not keeping up much later in life). After obtaining her associate’s degree, she focused on a career in graphic arts and advertising management. When she moved to Minnesota in 1999, to be closer to her daughter, she found a niche for herself in the world of creative project management and focused on that until her retirement in early 2024.

Stacy loved being outdoors, taking walks in nature to enjoy abundant greenery and the sounds of flowing water and birdsong. Her daughter Jennifer remembers adventures on Rib Mountain and Oak Island growing up, and her niece Debi recalls many peaceful visits with Stacy to the Eau Claire Dells. When she lived in Minnesota, one could often find her on the paths around Hyland Lake in Bloomington and stopping for a picnic along the way, or walking around the U of M Arboretum, or exploring local vineyards and orchards. Stacy surrounded herself with books and enjoyed fine wine, art, music, and the company of friends. She was a devoted nana to her two beloved grandchildren, William and Ada, spending as much time with them as possible and looking forward to every visit.

When she returned to Wausau in 2021, it was to reconnect with family and friends. She purchased a beautiful home (her first house, ever) and was beyond excited to settle in and make it her own, which she did with amazing speed. Sadly, in early 2022, Stacy was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer (and additionally diagnosed with thyroid cancer in early 2024). Her battle was long and courageous – an initially grim outlook was turned on its head via a wonderful medical team at Aspirus and Mayo Clinics as well as Stacy’s sheer determination.

As her disease progressed with symptoms of dementia at the beginning of 2025, the amazing caregiving team at Inner Peace worked with Stacy and her daughter to provide loving, in-home palliative care. Many thanks to this team for helping to provide a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. Appreciation also goes out to the compassionate hospice care team at Aspirus for their assistance during Stacy’s final days.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20th, 2025, at Brainard Funeral Home in Wausau. A reception will follow at 1:00 p.m. (details will be provided at the visitation). In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Stacy’s memory by making a charitable donation to a conservation organization of your choosing.