Obituaries

Thomas "Tom" Beese

Feb 27, 2021

Thomas “Tom” Beese, 72 of Wausau, passed away unexpectedly on February 27, 2021, while wintering in Florida.

Tom was born on December 30, 1948 to the late Carl and Irene (Krueger) Beese in Wausau. He graduated from Wausau High School, attended Northern Michigan University, and earned a bachelor’s degree from California Coast University. Tom served in the...

Joel Sommerfeldt, PhD

Feb 25, 2021

Joel Sommerfeldt, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly at his home on February 25, 2021 at the age of 66 years old.

Joel was born on May 13, 1954, to the late Robert and Marie (Behrendt) Sommerfeldt in Berlin, Wisconsin. He attended Rhinelander High School. It was there that he met the love of...

Marsha "Hambone" Nitzsche

Feb 25, 2021

Marsha “Hambone” Nitzsche, age 84, of Wausau died on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Stonecrest Assisted Living.

Marsha was born on August 3, 1936 in the Town of Rib Mountain to the late Henry and Victoria (Raasch) Mohr.  She married Robert Nitzsche on November 5, 1955 at St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Wausau.  He preceded her in...

Jake Goldade

Feb 23, 2021

Jake Goldade, 88, passed away, on February 23, 2021 at Mount View Care Center-Wausau.

Jake was born on May 29, 1932 to the late Joseph and Susan (Hephner) Goldade, in Beulah, ND. He married Alda Wehri on September 11, 1956 at St. Clement’s, Haymarsh, ND.

Jake received his Welder, Combination Diploma from the School of...

Susan Holtman

Feb 22, 2021

Susan Jane Holtman, 62, Merrill, passed away peacefully Monday, February 22, 2021 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Susan was born April 9, 1958 in Wausau to the late Robert James and Shirley Jane (Jaeks) Barrick.  She graduated from DC Everest high school and while working at federal mogul as an inspector she met...

David Dulak

Feb 21, 2021

David John Dulak, 59, of Town of Easton, passed away peacefully at home after spending the weekend with his beloved grandchildren on February 21, 2021.

Dave was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 31, 1961, to the late Joseph and Theda (Brabant) Dulak. He was raised in Menominee, Michigan, and lived in Wausau, Wisconsin for the past...

Robert Ryan

Feb 21, 2021

Robert “Bucky” Ryan, age 77, died on February 1, 2021 at Mt. View Care Center after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bucky was born on March 8, 1943 in Honey Creek, Wisconsin to the late William and Geneva (Harris) Ryan. He married Carol Clairmore on December 17, 1967. He served his country honorably in the US...

Robert Drews

Feb 21, 2021

Robert “Bob” Drews, age 88, of Weston, died February 21, 2021, at Primrose Memory Care.

Bob was born in Fond du Lac to the late Arthur and Iva (Allard) Drews on February 14, 1933. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Milwaukee and joined the United States Air Force. He worked as a letter carrier for the...

John Sullivan, Jr.

Feb 21, 2021

John Leo Sullivan, Jr., 61, of Wausau, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home at 9:06 pm on February 21, 2021, while surrounded by family.

John was born to the late John and Gertrude (Lauzon) Sullivan on May 16, 1959 in Wakefield, Michigan and was raised in the Bessemer area. At just 13, he started tearing...

Verna Baneck

Feb 20, 2021

Verna Ann Baneck, 82, Rothschild, went to her eternal home on February 20, 2021.  She was born October 10, 1938 in Marathon City to the late Reinhart and Viola (Langhoff) Stahel.  She married Walter Baneck on July 6, 1957 and they celebrated 58 loving years together before he passed in 2015. She was a homemaker, a school safety patrol...

Skyler Firnstahl

Feb 19, 2021

Baby boy Skyler James Firnstahl will be loved and never forgotten.

Any memorial donations may be made to:

Brainard Funeral Home

C/O Skyler Firnstahl

522 Adams Street

Wausau, WI 54403

Jacob Martens MD

Feb 19, 2021

Jacob H. Martens MD, age 90, of Wausau, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on 19 February 2021 with family at his bedside.

He was born in the Bronx, New York, 14 July 1930, to Jakob H. and Meta (Heckstaden) Martens, after their recent immigration from Germany. He attended DeWitt Clinton HS in the Bronx, and graduated...

Gordon Tapper

Feb 18, 2021

Gordon A. Tapper, aged 95 of Wausau died unexpectedly Thursday, Feb 18th, 2021 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was born November 3, 1925, in Wausau to Helmuth and Alma (Raduechel) Tapper. Gordon was the fourth of seven children.

Gordon was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Wausau, and attended the one-room Trinity school. In...

Wayne "Coach" Steffenhagen

Feb 18, 2021

Wayne “Coach” Steffenhagen, 79, of Weston passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Wayne was born on April 30, 1941, in Lake City, MN to the late Dorance and Julia (Tiedeman) Steffenhagen. After completing high school, Wayne went on to study at the University of Minnesota. It was there that he met the...

Terry Burton

Feb 13, 2021

Terry J. Burton, 82, of Weston, passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2021, with his loving family by his side.

It all went so fast. Terry Burton, son of Geraldine and Walter Burton, was born in a small South Dakota town on March 3rd, 1938- his brother Dennis arriving a couple of short years later....

Edward "Ed" Lutzow

Feb 11, 2021

Edward P. Lutzow, 76, of Weston, formerly of Kaukauna, died on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Pride TLC in Weston, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, Wausau.

Ed was born on January 2, 1945, in Appleton, son of LaRoy and Grace (Walsh) Lutzow.  He graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1963, and went on...

James "Jim" Wright

Feb 9, 2021

James B. Wright, 89 years old, of Wausau, passed away on February 9, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Jim was born on November 19, 1931, to the late Bailey and Alice (Pratt) Wright in Dayton, Ohio. He attended Central High School in Lima, Ohio, graduating in 1949 and graduated with a BS in Nautical Science from the...

Linda Frei

Feb 8, 2021

Beloved Wife and Mother to all, Linda Sue Frei passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 8th, 2021.

Linda, age 72, was born in 1948 to her loving parents, the late Martin and Lillian (Pedersen) Fagan. Linda was a Chicago girl that fell in love with a horse riding cowboy, Richard Frei, and they were married...

Dennis Seehafer

Feb 6, 2021

Dennis L. Seehafer, age 66, of Marathon died unexpectedly of natrual causes on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at home.

Dennis was born on January 28, 1955 in Wausau to Marvin and Norma (Foster) Seehafer.  He graduated from D.C. Everest High School in 1973.  He went on to work for Motion Industries for 38 years.  Dennis was an avid Green Bay...

Julie LaVake

Feb 5, 2021

Julie Jean (Klinger) LaVake left her earthly home Friday, February 5, 2021 with her children beside her. Her spirit was fighting but the body was far to weak.   It just wore out.  Julie was born August 11, 1963 to James and Jeanne (Wendorf) Klinger.   She endured a lifelong battle with Muscular Dystrophy and its many pitfalls with strength, courage,...