Obituaries & Guestbook

Our Mom was called to heaven on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Jane Ann Rusch, 84, died suddenly, but peacefully at Bellin Memorial Hospital, with her family by her side. Jane was born in Oconto, WI to Elmer and Beulah Johnston. She shared her early years with brothers, Bill and Jack who watched over their little sister after their mother died of cancer when Jane was eleven. Meeting the love of her life in her early teens, Jane married Walter A. [...]

John “Jack” Duame Jr., 89, Stiles Jct., died Saturday evening, July 2, 2022 surrounded by family.  He was born October 22, 1932 to John and Bernice (Kenny) Duame Sr. in the Town of Stiles where he grew up.  Jack graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1950 and later, extended his education at NWTC becoming a certified soil tester and MPRS plumber.  As a young man, he served in the US Army during the Korean War and [...]

Colleen M. Bigelow, Oconto Falls, was born July 29, 1943 in Milwaukee to Russell and Bernice (Henne) Mansteen.  When she was 13 years old, Colleen moved to Oconto Falls where she graduated with the class of 1961. On May 18, 1963 she married Paul Bigelow at Grace Lutheran Church and they had two children.  Paul and Colleen raised their family in Oconto Falls where she worked at the West Side Mart and later Witt’s Piggly Wiggly.  She also volunteered with [...]

Patricia A. Thompson, 71, died Saturday, June 25, 2022.  She was born February 28, 1951 to Kenneth “Babe” and Myra Thompson. Survivors are her daughter, Michelle, Green Bay; five sisters, Barbara Murphy and Kathy Thompson, Green Bay; Jean (Jim) VanHulle, Oconto; Mary Thompson and Nancy (Bart Magnin) Fish, all of Oconto Falls; six brothers, John (Colleen) Thompson, Green Bay; James (Karen) Thompson, Lena; Jerry and Steve Thompson, both of Oconto Falls; Mike and David Thompson, both of Green Bay; one [...]

Beverly “Bev” Kratz, 83, Oconto Falls, died Friday morning, June 10, 2022 at St. Clare Hospital, Oconto Falls.  She was born April 7, 1939 to Elmer and Elsie (Hansen) Everard.  Bev grew up in Oconto Falls where she attend Degantown School, graduating Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1957.  As a young women, she worked at the original hospital as a Nurse’s Aide. On August 23, 1958 she married Norman Kratz at St. Anthony Catholic Church and they [...]

Norman E. Olson, 92, Peshtigo, formerly Gillett, died Friday morning, June 10, 2022 at Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette.  He was born December 24, 1929 in the Gillett area to Albert and Laura (Larson) Olson.  Norman grew up on the family farm in rural Gillett where he learned how to own and operate a successful farm. On August 28, 1953 he married Helen Heise.  As a young married couple and living with his parents, they purchased the 120 acre [...]

Daniel “Danny” Pagel, 63, Spruce, was born to eternal life Monday evening, June 6, 2022 at St. Clare Memorial Hospital ER.  He was born October 5, 1958 to Leslie and Jeanette (Smith) Pagel Sr.  Dan attended Spruce School and graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1977. On July 23, 1977 he married Marie Alsteen at St. Charles Catholic Parish in Lena.  The couple purchased the Pagel family farm in the Town of Spruce, raised their five [...]

Barbara “Barb” Elliott, 89, Oconto Falls, died Saturday morning, May 28, 2022 at Serenity Gardens in Gillet, where she recently moved.  She was born April 24, 1933 in Waukesha to Gustav and Eleanore (Long) Scheffel.  Following the death of her mother, Barb moved with her father, stepmother Gertrude Valentine Scheffel and siblings, Donald and Mary to Oconto Falls in 1948.  She graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1951. On July 28, 1951 she married Howard Elliott [...]

Stephen “Steve” R. Prenger, 83, Suamico, died Wednesday evening, May 18, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay.  The oldest of three children of Ralph and Esther Prenger was born April 10, 1939 in Jefferson City, MO.  He grew up in Jefferson City where he attended schools, following high school graduation Steve received his BA Degree from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO.  He then attended Missouri University Graduate School in Law and History.  Steve worked as an R [...]

Steven W. Dansereau, 64, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Sunday, May 8, 2022 at St. Vincent Hospital following complications from a stroke.  He was born July 22, 1957 in Ware, MA to Harold and Ann (Luscomb) Dansereau.  As a teenager, Steve moved with his family to the Abrams area and graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1976.  On October 27, 1979 he married Diane Freward and they had three children. Steve lived in the area most of [...]