OBITUARIES

Jun 16, 2018

Dorothy DeCloux, 103, Oconto Falls, died peacefully Saturday morning, June 16, 2018 at Lakewood Assisted Living surrounded by family.  She was born January 20, 1915 in Oconto Falls to Robert and Florence (Olson) Damp Jr.

Dorothy lived in Oconto Falls for most of her life where she worked at a local canning factory and Sonny’s Restaurant before...

Jun 13, 2018

Luella Whiting, 75, died peacefully Wednesday evening, June 13, 2018 at Care Partners in Oconto.  She was born November 24, 1942 in the Town of Breed to Edgar and Margery (Holmes) Farrar.  Luella grew up on the family farm in rural Oconto where she attended school and graduated high school.

On December 3, 1960 she married Ronald...

Jun 7, 2018

Faye L. Anderson, 94, Oconto Falls, died Thursday evening, June 7, 2018 at Bellin Hospital.  She was born July 21, 1923 in Oconto Falls to Arthur and Florence (Gilbertson) Rice.  Faye grew up in the Oconto Falls area where she attended school, graduating high school with the class of 1941.

On August 25, 1945 she married Merlin...

Jun 7, 2018

Gary L. Leayman, 71, Oconto Falls, died early Thursday morning, June 7, 2018 at home with his family present, following a three year illness with acute myeloid leukemia.  He was born September 21, 1946 in Winfield, KS to Glenroy and Marjorie (Kunkel) Leayman.  Gary grew up in the area where he attended schools, graduating from Douglas High School with...

May 31, 2018

Leonard F. Wirkus, 98, Gillett, formerly of Oak Creek, died Thursday morning, May 31, 2018.  The oldest of three children was born October 6, 1919 in Milwaukee County to Joseph and Helen Wirkus.

On May 12, 1945 he married Ruth Wolter in Milwaukee.  The couple lived in the Oak Creek area for most of their married lives...

Apr 26, 2018

Ralph “Jack” VandenBush, 90, Oconto Falls, died early Thursday morning, April 26, 2018 at Atrium Post Acute Care.  He was born December 17, 1927 in the Town of Morgan to William and Rose (Wood) VandenBush.  Jack grew up in the Oconto Falls area where he graduated high school with the class of 1946.  As a young man he entered...

Apr 24, 2018

Shirley Rae Bellow, infant daughter of Reese and Jennifer (Perry) Bellow, Green Bay, died prior to birth on Tuesday morning, April 24, 2018 at Aurora Baycare Medical Center.

Survivors include her parents; 2 year old big brother Brantley; paternal grandmother, Mary (Keith Hendzel) Kallies, Green Bay; paternal grandfathers, Edwin Bellow, Oconto Falls and Tim Kallies, Pulcifer; maternal...

Apr 11, 2018

Wayne Damp, 75, Oconto Falls, died suddenly of natural causes Wednesday morning, April 11, 2018 at the home of his daughter.  He was born January 23, 1943 in Oconto Falls to James and Lorraine (Kitzman) Damp Sr.  Wayne grew up in Oconto Falls where he attended pubic schools, graduating from high school with the class of 1961.  Following graduation,...

Apr 8, 2018

Ronald M. Blawat, 87, Townsend, died peacefully Sunday evening, April 8, 2018 following a short illness.  He was born December 10, 1930 in Milwaukee to Max and Bernice (Ruszczyk) Blawat.  Ron grew up in Milwaukee and following graduation from high school he entered the US Navy and served as a pilot during the Korean War.  Upon his honorable discharge...

Mar 31, 2018

Robert “Bob” Picazo, 81, Oconto Falls, died Saturday morning, March 31, 2018 at The Cottages.  He was born December 14, 1936 in Kenosha to Richard and Isabel (Garcia) Picazo.  Bob grew up in Kenosha where he attended school and as a young man, entered the US Army.  As a paratrooper, he proudly served his country while stationed at Fort...

Mar 19, 2018

Jamie M. Braun, 42, DePere, died suddenly of natural causes Monday morning, March 19, 2018.  He was born February 5, 1976 in Oconto Falls to Sherri Braun and Robert Konitzer.  Jamie grew up in Oconto Falls and Lena, graduating from Lena High School with the class of 1994.

On April 4, 2009 he married Pattie Latvala in...

Mar 2, 2018

Ellen Mary Marguerite Kiley Lappen, 75, watercolour artist, believed flowers are like a beautiful ballet. Great-grandmother-to-be, devoted mother, grandmother and wife of 57 years, Ellen was called home by the Holy Spirit in the early morning hours of March 2, 2018. In Appleton, Wisconsin, she was born on June 23, 1942 to Dorothy (Van Gorp) and George W. Kiley,...

Mar 2, 2018

Oconto Falls – Audrey A. (Kramer) Piper died on Friday evening, March 2, surrounded by her family. The youngest of 14 brothers and sisters, Audrey was born June 25, 1932, to Paul and Josephine (Matuzeski) Kramer at the family farm near Lena, WI and graduated from Lena High School. On June 23, 1951 she married...

Feb 22, 2018

Myles H. Wellnitz, 60, Morgan, died Thursday evening, February 22, 2018 at home surrounded by his family following a hard fought battle with cancer.  He was born January 31, 1958 in Oconto Falls to Harvey and Betty (VanDenElzen) Wellnitz.  Myles attended Oconto Falls Public schools, graduating high school with the class of 1976.  Shortly after graduation, he went to...

Feb 20, 2018

Ruth O. Behnke, 97, Oconto Falls, died Tuesday afternoon, February 20, 2018.  She was born in the Town of Stiles to Ole and May (Erickson) Fredrickson.  Ruth grew up on the family farm, graduating from Lena High School with the class of 1938.  She graduated from Marinette County Normal in 1942 earning her teaching certificate and in 1966 earned...

Feb 19, 2018

Karen Dumas, 79, Lena, died Monday afternoon, February 19, 2018 at Rennes East in Peshtigo.  She was born July 7, 1938 in Racine to Wilbur and Pearl (Sommerfeld) Jensen.  Karen graduated Oconto High School with the class of 1957.

On May 1, 1959 she married Ronald P. Dumas in Arlington, VA.  The couple lived in the Town...

Feb 7, 2018

Steven “Steve” C. Wirtz, 54, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Wednesday afternoon, February 7, 2018 at home following complications from a recently diagnosed illness.  The oldest of four children born to Chester “Chet” J. and Janice (Hansen) Wirtz was born May 22, 1963 in Oconto Falls.  Steve attended Oconto Falls Public Schools, graduating from high school with the class of...

Feb 2, 2018

Michael J. “Mike” Nelson, 69, Green Bay, formerly of Gillett, died comfortably Friday afternoon, February 2, 2018 at home.  He was born January 7, 1949 in Oconto Falls to Alfred “Swede” and Jeannette (Backhaus) Nelson.  Mike grew up on the family farm in the Town of Underhill and attended Gillett public schools, graduating from high school with the class...

Jan 21, 2018

Ida Mae Messenger, 93, Lena, died Sunday morning, January 21, 2018 with family present.  She was born on January 23, 1924 in Oconto to Christopher and Grace (Baldwin) Follett.  She grew up in Oconto where she attended school, graduating from Oconto High School with the class of 1942.  On June 24, 1944 she married Harry J. Messenger at St....

Jan 8, 2018

Leslie Ann (Jossie) Suring, 74, Kelly Lake, died Monday evening, January 8, 2018 at home.  The only daughter of Clifford and Gladys (Anderson) Suring was born January 12, 1943 in Shawano.  Leslie graduated salutatorian of the class of 1961 from Suring High School.  Following graduation, she attended Lawrence College Conservatory of Music and earned her Bachelor of Science degree...