Mona R. Wiechmann

Our dear mother, Mona (McNamar) Wiechmann of Manitowish Waters WI, passed away
peacefully on March 8, 2023. She was born on April 4, 1943 to Ray and Mildred McNamar of
Medford, WI. After graduating from Medford High School, Mona attended the University of
Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Estes Park CO to work at a girls camp where she found
her passion for the “Out-West” culture. Mona, always the tomboy, discovered that the
mountains nourished her soul and encouraged her to a life of adventure! She became a very
passionate outdoorswoman filling her days with biking, kayaking, hiking, Nordic and alpine
skiing, snowshoeing and camping. One of our favorite “aha! our mother is awesome” moments
was after she sent us a video of herself bungee jumping while on a trip to New Zealand. We all
knew then that Mona was someone who never turned down an opportunity for a thrill! Mona
always loved trips to the Southwest United States, vacationing with cousins in Cancun yearly,
travelling solo in her van all over the country, road trips with her dear friend Carol where they
declared themselves as “The Two Traveling Tarts” as well as several other international trips to
places like Croatia and Africa. She was blessed to be surrounded by such astounding friends and
family who supported her sense of adventure and shenanigans.
Mona was also quite active in her community. While raising her children in Wausau, WI, she
was on the board for the YWCA and the St. Michael’s PTA. After moving to her beautiful lake
home in Manitowish Waters, Mona became involved in the Manitowish Waters bike committee,
secretary of the Lake Association and held positions as both VP and President of the Northwood
Ski Touring Association (NSTA). She was also a member of the Lady Yakkers, the MW
Chamber of Commerce as well as being active in several other community events.
Mona is survived by her (4) children, James Baumer of Escondido, CA, Shane (Mary Jo)
Wiechmann of Faribault MN, Shannon (Steven) Eckley of Ormond Beach FL and Steve
(Melissa) Wiechmann of Bozeman MT as well as her (9) amazing grandchildren (Emma,
Natalie, Gabriella, April, Desiree, Torin, Noah, Steve and Cory), (2) beautiful great-
grandchildren (Nevaeh and Jacob), brother Pat (Marlys) McNamar, and dozens of close family
and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Johnathon, and her parents Ray and
Mildred McNamar.
Please join us for a celebration of life service on July 20 th at 11am at Our Lady Queen of Peace in
Manitowish Waters, WI with a lunch at the North Lakeland Discovery Center afterwards. Please
feel free to bring a small stone to put into a basket to honor her love for geology and nature. (All
stones will be placed around her property.) In lieu of flowers, in-kind donations can be sent to:
Camp ManitoWish, % Beth Rondello, PO Box 246, Boulder Junction, WI 54512 or online at
manito-wish.org/donate