Obituaries

Jul 18, 2023

Alvin E. Lezotte, 88, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Alvin was born March 28, 1935, in Neillsville, Wisconsin, son of the late Edward and Hazel (Peaslee) Lezotte. He married Yvonne Schmidt on November 25, 1961, in Neillsville. She survives. Alvin enlisted in the United States Army in March of 1958....

Jul 17, 2023

Lois M. Latzig (Nee Bennett), 87, of the Town of Pine River, Lincoln County, passed away Monday, July 17, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after spending her last days surrounded by her family.

Lois was born September 10, 1935, in Tomahawk, daughter of the late Arthur and Mae (Pecore) Bennett. Lois married Warren E. Latzig...

Jul 9, 2023

Grace L. Batchelder, 90, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2023, at her home under the care of her family and Compassus Hospice.

Grace was born May 19, 1933, in the Town of Pine River, daughter of the late Lyndon and Emma (Verbeck) Geiger. She married Donald Batchelder on May 21, 1952, at St....

Jun 21, 2023

Karen R. Moesch, 80, formerly of Shawano, passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2023, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.

Karen was born April 13, 1943, in Waukesha, daughter of the late Louis and Della (Trevorrow) Marcks. She married Dean Moesch on May 14, 2014. Karen lived in Merrill for the last nine years. She enjoyed...

Jun 13, 2023

Joyce A. Klebenow, 83, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Stoney River Memory Care, Marshfield.

Joyce was born April 4, 1940, in Merrill, daughter of the late Clarence and Elsie (Schmidt) Bade. She married Melvin Klebenow on September 24, 1960, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Merrill. Joyce and Melvin were...

May 31, 2023

Phyllis Mae Herdt, 71, passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center, Weston.

Phyllis was born April 8, 1952, in Wausau, daughter of the late Roy and Dorothy (Scheffler) Golisch. She married Shane Herdt Sr. on November 2, 1984. He survives. Phyllis worked at various jobs including Foxpoint, Kolbe and Kolbe Windows, Hanz...

May 28, 2023

Lorna E. Woller, 91, of Minocqua, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Country Terrace of Wisconsin, Minocqua.

Lorna was born July 30, 1931, daughter of the late Walter and Anna (Hoff) Steidtman. She married Lilas Woller on May 5, 1951, at the former Zion Lutheran Church, Town of Maine, Marathon County. He preceded her...

May 24, 2023

Rita L. Koch, 92, of Merrill passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center-Weston.

Rita was born December 1, 1930, in Antigo, daughter of the late Frank and Katherine (Krugel) Steinfest. Rita was raised on a farm north of Gleason. She married Norman Koch on June 28, 1952, in Merrill. She worked for several years...

May 23, 2023

Ralph Buch, 84, of Merrill, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 23, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Ralph was born December 16, 1938, to Willie and Ella (Moeck) Buch. He graduated from Wausau East High School in 1957. Ralph joined the Army Reserves and spent six long months in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri....

May 22, 2023

Matthew E. Semling, 65, of Merrill, passed away Monday, May 22, 2023, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital.

Matt was born March 29, 1958, in Merrill, son of the late Donald and June (Germain) Semling. He graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1976. Matt married Sarah Wold on October 31, 2003, in Merrill. She survives. Matt...

May 17, 2023

Shirley C. Hinz, 69, of the Town of Scott, Lincoln County, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Shirley was born March 31, 1954, in Merrill, daughter of the late Norman and Rita (Gano) Benson. She married Earl ‘Butch’ Hinz, Jr. on October 25, 1980, in Merrill. He survives. Shirley ran an in-home daycare...

May 10, 2023

Geraldine A. ‘Gerry’ Dotter, 94, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill.

Geraldine was born November 18, 1928, in Merrill, daughter of the late Ray Turbin and Delores (Egan) Cotter. She graduated from Merrill High School and then attended beauty school in Eau Claire. She married Gordon Dotter on...

May 6, 2023

Lloyd H. Buck, Jr., 65, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Lloyd was born June 23, 1957, in Merrill, son of Ruth (Schulz) Buck and the late Lloyd H. Buck, Sr. He graduated from Merrill High School and furthered his education at UW – Madison in the Farm & Industry Short...

May 5, 2023

Allen F. Buch, 80, of Merrill, passed away Friday, May 5, 2023, at his home under the care of his family and Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.

Allen was born June 24, 1942, in Merrill, son of the late William and Ella (Moeck) Buch. He married Phyllis Arlie Nass on September 28, 1961, at...

May 1, 2023

Sally B. Leistikow, 87, of Merrill, passed away Monday, May 1, 2023, at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill.

Sally was born July 23, 1935, in Merrill, daughter of the late Marvin and Mildred (Speas) Ingersoll. She married Gerald ‘Jerry’ Leistikow on January 7, 1956, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. Sally was a lifelong member of...

Apr 30, 2023

Bonita McClure, 76, of Merrill, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at her home, under the care of Compassus Hospice and her family.

Bonita was born June 20, 1946, in Greenville, South Carolina, daughter of the late Samuel and Ruth (Johnson) Harvell Greene.

After graduating from Bradley Central High School,...

Apr 24, 2023

John L. ‘Jack’ Pagels, 81, of Merrill, passed away Monday, April 24, 2023, at his home under hospice care, surrounded by his family.

Jack was born June 25, 1941, in Milwaukee, son of the late Ernest and Margaret (Otto) Pagels. He was an entrepreneur and a jack of all trades. Jack was a people person...

Apr 23, 2023

Gay E. Oberg, 87, of Merrill, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Aspirus Merrill Hospital surrounded by his family.

Gay was born November 14, 1935, son of the late Ernest and Gladys (Thompson) Oberg. Gay was born in Lincoln County at the old County Home on Highway 17. He married Sally Lenore Krueger on October 5,...

Apr 23, 2023

Marland G. Gennrich, 87, of Gleason, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Marland was born July 15, 1935, in Lincoln County, son of the late August and Irene (Marshall) Gennrich. He married Shirley Bloechl on August 24, 1957, at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Merrill. Marland was a dairy farmer for...

Apr 17, 2023

Dakota Grace Brown, 16, of Merrill, passed away Monday, April 17, 2023.

Dakota was born October 10, 2006, in Stevens Point, daughter of Lynnea Brown and Chad Brown. Dakota was a sophomore at Merrill High School. She recently started working as a dietary aide at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill. Her goal after high school was to...