Obituaries & Guestbook

Vi McDermid, 97, lifelong Oconto Falls resident and matriarch of the McDermid family, died Wednesday morning, September 13, 2023 at home surrounded by her family.  The 2^nd youngest of 12 children of Louis “Smokey” and Rose (Gouin) Trudeau was born April 17, 1926 in Oconto Falls.  Vi attended St. Anthony Catholic School and growing up in the depression, started working in her teens.

On October 7, 1944 she married Neil McDermid at St. Anthony Catholic Church.  Following their marriage, the couple worked together on the Lehner’s Farm.  They then purchased the Trudeau family farm where they farmed and started McDermid Sand & Gravel and Neil also worked at Scott Paper.  In 1958, they purchased the Kadlec Bar (now Corner Pocket) and named it the Westside Tavern and served food and 10 cent beers.  On Friday nights, they would serve 300-400 perch dinners for 50 cents with all the children helping. It was during these times she was fondly known as “Vi-Spy”.  After selling the bar, they purchased the Truck Stop Restaurant where there was a lot of work for Vi without making much money.  Then they purchased a bar on Main Street in Oconto Falls and ran Neil & Vi’s for many years which was popular and their saying was: “not fancy, just friendly”.  In 1978, Vi went to an auction for the old Westside Tavern and bought it back along with Mike and Mary McDermid.  Then she could tell everyone she had bars on both sides of Oconto Falls.  After their bar days, she and Neil started to recycle all kinds of motors and metals.  In 1999, she went to work for McDermid Transportation Inc. and went to the office five days a week until she was 92 years old.  In 2019, she was the Grand Marshal of the annual Oconto Falls Memorial Parade.  Vi will be fondly remembered for creative talents, painting, crafts and caring for her numerous green plants.

Survivors are her children, Pat Wranosky, Geri (Rick) Kruse, Dan (Debbie) McDermid and Susie McDermid (Don); Mary McDermid; 27 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren with one on the way; one sister-in-law, Judy (Joe) Delisi; many nieces, nephews, neighbors and good friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Neil in 1999, two sons Mike and Bob “Runto” McDermid, one daughter Ronnie (Angus) Kopatz, two great grandsons, Buck Koslovsky and Michael H. McDermid, two sons-in-law, Dennis Meunier and Craig Kopatz, eight brothers, three sisters along with their spouses, one brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law along with their spouses.

Visitation will be held after 3:00 PM Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls, there will be a 7:00 PM parish prayer service.  Visitation will continue after 9:00 Am Monday, September 18, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls until the time of service.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Monday at the church with the Rev. Fr. Walter Stumpf officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The McDermid family would like to thank Carmen and Stephanie McDermid for their care shown Vi during her illness as well as Compassus Hospice, especially Robin and her team.