OBITUARIES

Aug 31, 2023

Henry Lea Graef, stillborn son of Andrew Graef and Rita Krause, died peacefully surrounded by family at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023 at HSHS St. Clare hospital in Oconto Falls, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his paternal uncle, Steven Graef; his maternal great grandparents James and Merle Krause, Georgeann Roberts, and Harold Paul Baldwin;...

Aug 30, 2023

Susan Marie Tomalak (Winter), 68, died Wednesday evening, August 30, 2023 of lung cancer, leaving behind her family who loved her. Her Husband Erv Tomalak, married for 49 years, (in December) has these comments: “I always appreciated how she worked so, so hard to make a happy home for us. She left behind a son Todd Tomalak who she...

Aug 10, 2023

Denise Wirz, 64, Kelly Lake, died suddenly Thursday evening, August 10, 2023 at St. Clare Hospital in Oconto Falls.  She was born August 18, 1958 in Chicago, IL to James and Suzanne (Whelehan) Skoda.  Denise grew up in the Chicago area where she graduated Queen of Peace Catholic Girls High School in Burbank, IL with the class of 1976. ...

Aug 7, 2023

Mary Oninski, 97, Oconto Falls, died Monday morning, August 7, 2023 at Rennes West in Peshtigo.  She was born June 16, 1926 in the City of Souris on Prince Edward Island, Canada to Henry and Anna (McCormack) Mallard. Following graduation from high school, she met her future husband.

On February 24, 1955 she married Felix Oninski.  Because...

Jul 10, 2023

Vija Rukis, 95, Oconto Falls, died Monday morning, July 10, 2023 at the Meng Hospice Residence Campus in DePere.  She was born March 4, 1928 in Latvia to Janis and Millija (Feldmanis) Einbergs.  She married Karlis Rukis and they had four children together, triplets and then three years later another son.

Survivors are her triplets, Ansis (Mary...

Jul 5, 2023

Shirley Ann (Thomson) Yatso, 85, Oconto Falls, died peacefully surrounded by her family at home Wednesday, July 5, 2023.   She was born March 14, 1938, in Lena to Ervin and Jean (Paulu) Thomson.   Shirley graduated from Coleman High School in 1956 and attended Prospect Secretarial School Milwaukee from 1956 – 1957.

On October 11, 1958 she married...

Jul 4, 2023

Gary E. Frank, 80, Gillett, died Tuesday evening, July 4, 2023 at the Meng Residence Hospice Center in DePere.  He was born July 9, 1942 in Clintonville to Elmer and Marge (Carson) Frank.  Gary grew up with his many siblings in Wisconsin and the UP.

On October 8, 1966 he married Joyce Houska in Michigan.  Following their...

Jun 27, 2023

Howard V. Elliott II, 94, Oconto Falls, died early Tuesday morning, June 27, 2023 at Serenity Gardens in Gillett.  He was born December 15, 1928 in the town his great-great grandparents founded, John and Almira Volk, to Howard P. and Alma (Rifenberg) Elliott Sr.  A lifelong resident, Howard attended Oconto Falls Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1947....

Jun 26, 2023

Xenia Brehmer, 88, Oconto Falls, went to her heavenly home on Monday, June 26, 2023 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay.  She was born March 21, 1935 in Richmond, VA to Miles & Mary Louise (Ramos) Sparkman, Sr.

On December 30, 1954 she married Roland (Red) Brehmer, Sr. in Richmond, VA.  They started their lives and...

Jun 25, 2023

Sandra Faye Lambrecht-Bigelow, 72, Oconto Falls, passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, June 25, 2023.  She was born on June 16, 1951 in Oconto Falls to the late Myrl Sr. and Stella (French) Lambrecht.

Sandra graduated from Gillett High School in 1969. She later met Neil Bigelow and were married in 1975. Sandra worked for Scott...

Jun 15, 2023

William “Bill” Kokko Jr., 84, Oconto Falls, died Thursday afternoon, June 15, 2023 at Meadowbrook Health Care Center. Proud of his heritage, he was born 100% Finnish to William and Wilma (Wertanen) Kokko Sr. on May 9, 1939 in Negaunee, MI. Lovingly called “Billy the Finn” by his close family, he lived his life in the Finnish spirit of...

Jun 9, 2023

Ethel Siegler-Pasko, 102, Oconto Falls, went to her heavenly home Friday morning June 9, 2023 at The Cottages at Meadowlands.  She was born June 29, 1920 in the Town of Oconto Falls to Paul and Lydia (Mayer) Wudtke.  Ethel grew up on the family farm in rural Oconto Falls where she attended public schools, graduating high school...

Jun 3, 2023

Carol A. Schmidt, 83, Lee Lake, died Saturday morning, June 3, 2023 at Washington Square in Marinette.  She was born January 7, 1940 in Milwaukee to Armin and Madeline (Lentz) Ott.  Carol grew up in Milwaukee where she graduated high school.

On August 18, 1962 she married Gerald Schmidt in Milwaukee.  Because of her husband’s military obligations,...

May 29, 2023

Donna Lou Albert, 89, Oconto Falls, died Memorial Day, May 29, 2023 at her home of 66 years.  She was born June 17, 1933 in Green Bay to Blaine and Lillian Schenk.  She grew up in Oconto where she graduated high school with the class of 1950.

On March 25, 1950 she married the love of her...

May 7, 2023

Del Monte Darby, the oldest son of Delmonte & Caryl Sue (Fowler) Darby, was born July 15, 1956 in Aurora, Illinois and died May 7, 2023, at Kelly Lake, Suring, Wisconsin, at the age of 66.

Del grew up in Aurora and spent all his summers at Kelly Lake.  He played football at East Aurora High School,...

May 6, 2023

Kenneth “Ken” W. Geiger, 92, Oconto Falls, died Saturday afternoon, May 6, 2023 at The Cottages in Oconto Falls with family members at his side.  He was born July 9, 1930 in Milwaukee to Charles and Anna (Schultz) Geiger.  Ken grew up in the Milwaukee area and later attended UW-Madison, graduating with a pharmacy degree in 1953.

...

May 5, 2023

Doug Meyer, 67, Neenah, formerly Oconto Falls, died Friday afternoon, May 5, 2023 at home surrounded by family members from congestive heart failure, following many years of health challenges.  He was born August 29, 1955 in Oconto Falls to Robert and Darlene (Rasmussen) Meyer.  Doug grew up with his many siblings in Oconto Falls where he excelled in all...

Apr 26, 2023

Richard L. “Dick” Scott, 82, passed peacefully Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at Bellin Hospital with his loving family present after a long hard battle with congestive heart failure. To the very end, Dick was a wonder to his family, and in the end he held on longer than even the medical professionals thought possible. His family was not surprised...

Apr 25, 2023

George E. Yatso Sr, 86, Oconto Falls, died peacefully at home Tuesday, April 25, 2023 with his wife, Shirley, at his bedside.   He was born October 20, 1936, in Lena to Steve and Mary (Mikeska) Yatso, Sr.  George attended Kelly Brook and Oak Grade School, (the only 4th grader in the class) and graduated from Oconto Falls High School...

Apr 25, 2023

William “Bill” H. Zachow, 78, Abrams, died peacefully Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at home.  He was born July 8, 1944 in Sheboygan to Louis and Alma (Cowell) Zachow.  Bill graduated from Oconto Falls High School in 1964 where he was a member of the FFA and later enlisted in the National Guard.

Over the years, Bill worked...