Obituaries
Bonnie Valzonis
Jun 4, 2026
Bonnie Marie Valzonis, age 80 of Romeoville, IL and formerly of Emery, WI passed away on Thursday, June 4th at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL.
Visitation for Bonnie will be held on Friday, June 19th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Heindl-Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel in Phillips. Graveside Services will follow at Emery Cemetery.
Please check back for full obituary.
Norman E. Then
Jan 4, 2026
Norman Edward Then age 91 of Arbor Vitae died peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday 1/4/2026 at Seasons of Life Hospice. Born on June 16, 1934, in Chicago Illinois, the son of Edward and Edna Then.
“Normie,” as he was fondly called, was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the American Legion in Woodruff. He was an avid...
Stanley Walter Gruszka Jr
Jun 1, 2026
Stanley “Stan” W. Gruszka, Jr., age 80 of Phillips, WI passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 1st at his residence. Stan was born on October 28, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois the son of Stanley and Harriet (nee Pociask) Gruszka Sr. Stan graduated from North Central College with a Bachelors degree and then earned his Masters degree at Northern Illinois University.
Stan...
John Anthony Kurth
May 22, 2026
John Anthony Kurth, age 63, passed away peacefully and went home to be with the Lord on May 22, 2026.
John was born on January 17, 1963, in Medford, WI, to Jerome and Patricia (Wiarek) Kurth. He graduated from Phillips High School in 1981. Shortly thereafter he went to work on the road finishing concrete in the Milwaukee area for Zignegos....
Dorothy Mae Johnson
Jun 14, 2026
Dorothy Mae (Keenlance) Johnson, age 96, of Minocqua, formerly of Plainfield, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on June 14th. Dorothy was born on November 13, 1929, in Almond, Wisconsin, the daughter of Albert H. and Anne (Warnichek) Keenlance. She was united in marriage to Charles H. Johnson on September 12, 1947, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Dorothy cherished working alongside her...
Mona Marie Whitaker
Jun 8, 2026
Mona Marie Whitaker, 75, of Tomahawk, WI passed away Monday, June 8, 2026 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital with loved ones by her side. Mona was born August 30, 1950, the daughter of Edward and Genevieve (Coskie) Pelon of Baraga, MI. She was united in marriage on May 5, 1973 to Allan Whitaker in Tomahawk.
Surviving are her husband of 53 years,...
Robert E. Lenkawski
Jun 7, 2026
Robert E. Lenkawski, Jr., age 51, a resident of Prentice, WI, passed away June 7, 2026, at Marshfield Medical Center Weston.
Beloved son of Margaret Lenkawski. Preceded in death by his father Robert E Lenkawski, Sr., and his sister Leslie.
Will be missed by his Aunt Natalie Renda, and his Uncle Tom and Linda Rzendian. Also, his Aunt Gloria and Uncle John...
Karen Faye Satre
Jun 7, 2026
Karen Faye (Toutges) Satre, age 74, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 7, 2026, as a result of a car accident. She was born on August 1, 1951, in South Dakota to Arnold Henry Toutges and Vina Lucille (Wellnitz) Toutges.
Karen grew up alongside her brothers, Dwayne, Dennis, Darrell, and Kenneth. She married David Charles Satre on January 26, 1971, in...
Nila I Delasky
Jun 4, 2026
Nila I. (Peevler) DeLasky was born April 8, 1945, in Danville, Illinois, to Marian and Victor Peevler. She passed away surrounded by her three children at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. She spent her early years in Danville before moving with her family to the Prentice/Hackett, Wisconsin area, where she graduated from Prentice High School in 1963. In June...
David J. Medendorp
May 31, 2026
David Joseph Medendorp, 65, peacefully passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at his home with family by his side. Born March 18, 1961, to Peter and Virginia (nee: Ganzel) Medendorp. He attended Washington Park High School in Racine, Wisconsin, and he spent his career with Fall River Manufacturing as Vice President of Manufacturing in Milwaukee, later moving his business...
William John Gitzlaff
May 29, 2026
William “Bill” John Gitzlaff, age 74 of Minocqua, WI, passed away peacefully due to complications of ALS with his wife and daughter by his side on Friday, May 29th at Howard Young Medical Center.Bill was born on August 30, 1951 in Racine, WI, the son of Arnold and Lois (nee Helding) Gitzlaff. Bill proudly served in the US Coast Guard...
Martha A. Keintz
May 29, 2026
Martha “Marty” Anne Keintz, 67, of Tomahawk, WI passed away Friday, May 29, 2026 at her home with family by her side. Marty was born February 16, 1959 in Wausau, the daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth (Sneider) Clifford. She was united in marriage to Steven “Steve” Keintz on June 20, 1981 in Tomahawk.
Marty dedicated more than 40 years of her...
Ray "Augie" M. Augustine
May 29, 2026
Raymond Michael Augustine “Augie”, 70, of Tomahawk and South Carolina passed away Friday, May 29, 2026 at Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital. Ray was born September 26, 1955 in Wausau, the son of Walter and Barbara (Gordon) Augustine. Raymond served in the U.S. Army. He was united in marriage to Rose Marie Bosze on January 17, 1975 in Bel-Air, Maryland.
Surviving are his...
Caroline Mary Lemke
May 26, 2026
Caroline Mary Lemke, 96, of Tomahawk, WI passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at her home. Caroline was born September 2, 1929 in Tomahawk, the daughter of August and Arvilla (Callsen) Crass. She was united in marriage May 7, 1949 to Glenn Lemke and he preceded her in death in 1989.
She worked for Lincoln Industries for 22 years, 35 years...
Eric Raymond Powell
May 25, 2026
Eric “Airman” “Rick” “Crash” “Jasper” “Flubber Butt” “Ricky Ray” “Pops” “Dad” Raymond Powell, age 64, a resident of St. Germain, WI, passed away May 25, 2026. He was born September 1, 1961, in Chicago, IL, to parents Raymond and Delores (Fenger) Powell.
Eric worked as a Bartender, most recently at the Kaig Stand in St. Germain. He loved riding his motorcycles...
John J. Nimsgern
May 23, 2026
John Joseph Nimsgern, age 59, of Menomonie, Wisconsin, and formerly of Minocqua, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly in Las Vegas, doing one of the things he loved most, playing the slot machines. John was born on December 5, 1966, in Elgin, Illinois, to William and Joyce (Mangold) Nimsgern Sr.
John graduated from Lakeland Union High School in 1985. While he may not...
Brian D. Maki
May 23, 2026
Brian D. Maki, age 60, a resident of Lac du Flambeau, WI, passed away May 23, 2026, at Howard Young Medical Center. He was born December 14, 1965, to parents Arnold and Joyce Maki.
Traditional Native American Services will be held beginning with a Wake on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 4:00pm at the Multi-Purpose Building in Lac du Flambeau. A...
Walter Schmuhl
May 22, 2026
Walter Schmuhl, age 88 of Minocqua, WI passed away at his home with his daughter by his side on Friday, May 22, 2026. Walter was born June 28, 1937 in Milwaukee to the late John and Rose Schmuhl.
Walter spent his life as a government employee. He began by receiving a honorable discharge from the Air National Guard of Wisconsin. Then...
Karl Pilch
May 19, 2026
On May 19, 2026, a very good kind man passed on.
Karl was born in Phillips to Andrew Pilch, Sr., and Susan (Raskie). He is survived by his brothers Andrew (Chris) Pilch, Jr, Richard (Laurie) Pilch, and sister Susan Heizler. His wife and best friend Marie Ericksen-Pilch, mother-in-law Theresa Warner, sons Robert (Danielle) Grigsby Sr., Christopher (Katy) Grigsby, grandchildren Robert (Raquel)...
Thomas K. Plewa
May 19, 2026
Thomas "Tom" Plewa, age 88 of Minocqua, WI passed away in his home on Tuesday, May 19th. He was born November 14, 1937 in Milwaukee, WI to Joseph and Helen (Grusczynski) Plewa. Tom served in the Army for 2 years as a heavy equipment operator and also worked in a foundry. He later began painting and because he had a...
