Obituaries & Guestbook

Melvin “Mel” G. Raatz, 71, Gillett, died suddenly Friday morning, January 18, 2019 of natural causes in St. Clare Memorial Hospital ER.  He was born August 6, 1947 in Milwaukee to Gustave and Tillie (Schultz) Raatz.  At the age of 3 years old, he moved with his family to a farm in rural Gillett.  Mel grew up in Gillett where he attended public schools, graduating from Gillett High School with the class of 1965.  Following graduation, he attended Wartburg College [...]

Agnes C. Bridger-Bast, 89, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Monday morning, January 14, 2019 at St. Clare Memorial Hospital.  She was born March 5, 1929 in Oconto Falls to Andrew and Jane (Berton) Konitzer.  She attended St. Anthony Catholic grade school and graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1948. On August 13, 1949 she married Donald J. Bridger.  The couple lived in Milwaukee for 30 years until moving to Sarasota, FL in 1979.  Agnes had a heart [...]

John “Jay” Daul, 66, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Sunday morning, January 13, 2019 at St. Vincent Hospital Cardio-Vascular-Intensive-Care-Unit (CVICU), following complications from open heart surgery January 4th.  The 2nd oldest of 9 children was born February 6, 1952 in Oconto to Francis and Joyce (Makos) Daul Sr.  Jay or “JJ” as he was known by those close to him, grew up in the Cream City area, Gillett and Oconto and attended school, graduating from Oconto High School with the class [...]

Marilyn J. Spice, 89, Seymour, formerly of Oconto Falls, died Wednesday morning, December 19, 2018 at Good Shepherd health care facility in Seymour with family present.  She was born October 6, 1929 in Crivitz to Joseph and Josephine (Gromeski) Nemojeski. On May 1, 1948 she married Floyd Spice in Lena.  The couple lived most of their married lives in the Oconto Falls area where they raised 8 children.  Marilyn was a dedicated homemaker who could always be found in the [...]

Walter “Wally” Schenkoski, 81, Gillett, died suddenly of natural causes Monday morning, December 10, 2018 at the emergency room of St. Clare Memorial Hospital.  The youngest of nine children was born May 22, 1937 in Degantown to Emil and Emily (Schindel) Schenkoski.  Wally grew up on the family farm in Degantown where he attended school and developed his mechanical skills. On July 14, 1956 he married Lenora “Dolly” Jaeger in Oconto.  Following their marriage the couple lived in Green Bay [...]

David C. Polashek, 70, Oconto Falls, died suddenly of natural causes Sunday, November 18, 2018 at a second residence in Hartford, CT.  He was the oldest son born to Gerald E. and Rosaline L. (Trubl) Polashek on January 20, 1948, in Grand Island, NE. The family moved to Protivin, IA where David attended Rudolphinum School, graduating in 1966. He attended the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where he earned a degree in secondary education in political science. On August 10, [...]

John S. Kowalczyk Jr., 68, Oconto Falls, died peacefully Thursday evening, November 1, 2018 at Atrium Post Acute Care of Oconto Falls with his family present.  He was born August 17, 1950 in Milwaukee to John and Mary (Karpeck) Kowalczyk.  John moved with his family to a farm in the Abrams area when he was 9 years old and attended school, graduating from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1968.  Following graduation, he went to work for Packerland [...]

June C. Braun, 97, Oconto Falls, went to be with Jesus early Sunday morning, October 14, 2018 at Atrium Post Acute Care of Oconto Falls with her family present.  The youngest of 10 children of Charles and Mary (Nelson) Gilbertson was born January 7, 1921 in the Town of Gillett and grew up there on the family farm and was confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church.  She moved with her parents to Oconto Falls in the 8th grade. On September 10, [...]

Orlin A. Krieser, 88, Oconto Falls, died peacefully Sunday evening, October 7, 2018 at Atrium Post Acute Care of Oconto Falls with his family present.  The youngest of six children of Albert and Agnes (Witneski) Krieser was born July 11, 1930 in the Town of Chase.  Because Orlin’s mother died when he was 11 months old, he was raised by his sisters and had to help on the family farm as a young boy.  It was during these formative years [...]

Linda Szymczak, 73, Oconto, died peacefully Monday evening, October 1, 2018 at home surrounded by her family following a five year struggle with congestive heart failure.  The only child of Sigmund and Janet (Brahmstead) Grabczyk was born April 12, 1945 in South Milwaukee.  Linda grew up in South Milwaukee where she graduated high school. In 1965, she married Edward Bornhofer and together they had three sons.  Linda was employed at Lakeside Manufacturing in Milwaukee for over 30 years.  She later [...]