Ardis E. Nau

Ardis E. Nau, 86, of Merrill, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Ardis was born August 7, 1937, in the Town of Lessor near Bonduel in Shawano County, daughter of Harry and Dora (Priem) Stuewer. She was baptized on August 26, 1937, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bonduel. Ardis was confirmed on July 23, 1950, at that same church. Her confirmation verse was “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Ardis attended Landsted School, a one-room school in the Town of Lessor, and then Graf School, also a one-room school in the Town of Hartland. She attended 7th and 8th grade in Bonduel with Jack Reinke being her teacher. In 1955, she graduated from Bonduel High School.

Ardis worked at Banters Grocery Store in Bonduel after school and on Saturdays during her Junior and Senior years of High School. This job provided a great learning experience as she had to write down everything that everyone bought and had to make change from the till. She refined her math skills as the till did not automatically calculate the change due to the customer.

After Ardis graduated from High School, she got a job at Wisconsin Public Service in Appleton. She and her friend, Joyce, rode to work with a man from Shawano. Since the man giving them rides was not dependable, Ardis bought a car from the Ford dealer in Bonduel. She paid for this car in silver dollars. Ardis worked at Wisconsin Public Service for three years

Ardis married Virgil F. Nau on June 28, 1958, in Bonduel. Virgil’s father presided over their wedding. Virgil and Ardis lived in Antigo until 1960, when they moved to Merrill in February of that year. They had their two sons in 1961 and 1964 – Todd and Terry. Eventually, Ardis took a job at Seeger’s Dairy and worked there for over 20 years as the bookkeeper.

Ardis and Virgil enjoyed fifteen great winters in Arizona. Ardis enjoyed making candy and treats during Christmastime and loved sharing them with her family and friends.

Survivors include her sons, Todd Nau and Terry (Candace) Nau; granddaughters, Jennifer (Blaine) VanderWielen and Nicole (Brian) Landwehr; great grandchildren, Addison and Mason VanderWielen and Hunter and Rhenley Landwehr; and sister-in-law, Gladys Stuewer. Ardis was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Nau; parents, Harry and Dora Stuewer; and brothers, Clarence Stuewer and Vernon Stuewer.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. Rev. David Szeto will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday. The inurnment will take place at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. Taylor-Stine Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Merrill, is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank Interim Healthcare for providing home care to Ardis and the staff at Aspirus Merrill Hospital for the exceptional care provided to Ardis and her family during her recent hospitalizations.

Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com