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Obit: Nowicki, Lottie E. (1922 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Nowicki, Woytowicz, DeWitt, Wroblewski, Walder, Lacke, Ivascu, Olson, Budrus, Kutek

----Source: Cuddie Funeral Home (Greenwood, Clark Co., WI) 1/6/2024

Nowicki, Lottie E. (6 June 1922 – 3 January 2024)

Lottie E. Nowicki, 101, Rib Mountain, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, under Hospice Care at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

She was born on June 6th, 1922, in Lublin, the 5th child of the late Walter and Stella Woytowicz. On September 15th, 1945, she was united in marriage to Anthony R. Nowicki at All Saint’s Cathedral in Chicago. Lottie was devoted to her faith and family. She wore many hats during her lifetime and her interests and hobbies were varied and numerous.

Lottie is survived by her sons Ed (Edie) Nowicki, Steve (Judy) Nowicki, daughters Jan (Roger) DeWitt and Teri (Paul) Wroblewski; grandchildren Brian (Allie) DeWitt, Jill (Andy) Walder, Jennifer (Tom) Lacke, Bobby (Rachel Ivascu) DeWitt, Michael (Erica) Nowicki, Karen (Tyler) Olson, and great-grandchildren Megan, Maya, Camryn, Brady, Katy, Eddie, Samuel, William, Cullen, Kashton and Clark. She is also survived by her sister Bernice (George) Budrus, sister-in-law Mary Woytowicz, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tony, son Louis, great-grandson Axeton, sister Jean and brothers John, Walter, Ted, Stanley, Edward, Milton and William.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at St. Mary’s PNC Church, Lublin, WI. Fr. John Kutek will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at St. Mary’s PNC Church. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Our family wishes to say Thank You to the amazing Nursing Staff of the Palliative Care Unit of Aspirus Wausau Hospital for the wonderful care they provided, to Chaplin Cindy for her prayers and kind words, and to Dan Stroinski from Thorp Funeral Home for the exceptional assistance he provided with final arrangements. We will be forever grateful to you all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Aspirus Health Foundation.

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Obit: Breu, Eugene E. (1960 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Breu, Fuchs, Ahonen

----Source: Rembs Funeral Home (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 1/6/2024

Breu, Eugene E. (3 October 1960 – 1 January 2024)

Eugene E. Breu, formerly of Marshfield, died on Monday, January 1, 2024, at the Colonial Center in Colby where he had resided for the past 9 years. He died under the care of St. Croix Hospice after a 9 month battle with ALS.

Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. There will be no service.

Eugene was born on October 3, 1960, in Marshfield to George and Marcella (Fuchs) Breu. He graduated from Marshfield High School.

Eugene was a big lover of all things Elvis and always enjoyed Tour Wisconsin with his friends, facilitated by the late Marc Cross of Cornerstone.

He is survived by his mother, Marcella, brothers, George Jr, and Phillip and a sister Marilyn, all of Marshfield. He was preceded in death by his father, George Breu Sr, and a brother David.

The family would like to thank the staff at Colby Center for their loving care over these past years and further thank St Croix Hospice for the compassionate and loving care in these last few months, especially Pastor Jeff Ahonen who facilitated many visits with "Elvis".

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Obit Bielecki, Marian A. (1932 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bielecki, Gwiazdon, Cieslek, Knudsen, Klonecki, Regehr, Antony

----Source: Plombon-Funeral Service (Stanley, Chippewa Co., WI) 1/8/2024

Bielecki, Marian A. (15 August 1932 – 4 January 2024)

Marian A. Bielecki, age 91, of Colby, formerly of Thorp, passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at The Waterford of Colby in Colby.

Marian Antoinette Cieslek was born on August 15, 1932, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Henry W. and Helen R. (Gwiazdon) Cieslek. She was raised in Chicago until 1944 when her family moved to rural Thorp. Marian graduated from Thorp High School in 1950, and was united in marriage to Louis Joseph Bielecki on May 26, 1951, in Hudson. They farmed in rural Thorp until moving into the city of Thorp in 1954. She worked as a waitress at Leo Hedler's Auto Cafe and at Thorp Dairy Bar. Marian later worked at ITT Life Insurance Corporation as an underwriter, until her retirement in 1981.

During her retirement, Marian helped raise her grandchildren, enjoyed time at their cabin in Lake Holcombe from spring to fall, fishing, sewing, bingo, cooking, bowling, going to the casino, and spending time with her family.

She was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church and its PCCW, and was also a member of the Clark County Homemakers.

Marian is survived by her son: Louie Jr. (Beth) Bielecki of Thorp, her daughter: Donna (Larry) Knudsen of Willard; 4 grandchildren: Crystal (Travis) Klonecki of Willard, Shawn Knudsen of Willard, Brady (Kari) Bielecki of Thorp, and Garret (Rachel) Bielecki of Stanley; 8 great-grandchildren: Brayden, Haylee, Maci, Blake, Jordyn, Linkn, Hudson and Boyd; two sisters: Rosemary Regehr of Wausau, Sylvia Cieslek of Thorp; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Louis J. Bielecki, Sr., and one son, Joseph Bielecki.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at St. Bernard - St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Stanislaus Michael Antony will officiate, and burial will follow in New St. Hedwig's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church, on Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

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Obit: Ewert, Cecil Mareta (1926 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pickett, Powers, Hornick, Ewert, Rahn, Miller, Powers, Crow, Koenig, Edblom

----Source: Life Tributes Funeral Home (Spencer, Clark Co., WI) 1/8/2024

Ewert, Cecil Mareta (11 April 1926 – 6 January 2024)

Cecil Mareta Hornick-Ewert, 97, a longtime resident of Colby, peacefully passed away at Our House Assisted Living in Chippewa Falls, surrounded by her family on January 6th, 2024.

Born in Baraboo, on April 11, 1926, to Roy and Blanche (Pickett) Powers, she was raised in Baraboo and graduated from Baraboo High School in 1944. On May 17th, 1947, she married Harry Hornick, and together they had three children: Earl, Barb, and Skip, while residing in the Madison area until 1957. The family then moved to the Minneapolis area, where their fourth child, Darrell, was born. In 1970, they relocated to the Unity/Colby area, where Cecil worked at Figi’s in Marshfield during the Christmas season for several years. After Harry's passing in 1987, she married Myron Ewert on October 10, 1997, and together they farmed until his passing in 2002.

Cecil found joy in reading, bowling, crossword puzzles, and volunteering at the Colby Food Pantry. She also cherished spending time with family and friends, watching softball games, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, especially her favorite Brewer, Cory Hart. She was a proud member of the Colby VFW, Zion Lutheran Church, and a former member and past president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary #358.

Survived by her children Earl (Carolyn) Hornick of Brandon, FL, Barb (Dwayne) Rahn-Miller of Bemidji, MN, daughter-in-law Shelly Hornick of Eugene, OR, and Darrell (Jean) Hornick of Holcombe, as well as sister-in-law Garnell Powers, sister-in-law Peg Powers, sister-in-law Barb Hornick, 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Cecil was preceded in death by her first husband, Harry Hornick, second husband, Myron Ewert, son Skip Hornick, son-in-law Terry Rahn, grandson Jeremy Crow, great-grandson Jared Crow, brothers Roy Jr. Powers, Earl Powers, Lynn Powers, Harland Powers, sister-in-law Alice Powers, brother-in-law Butch Hornick, sister-in-law Shirley Hornick, and brother-in-law Lefty Hornick.

The family expresses gratitude to those who cared for Cecil at the Dix apartments in Colby, Tammy Koenig and Billie Edblom from Inclusa, everyone at Our House Assisted Living, and the St. Croix Hospice team.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer to honor Cecil's memory.

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Obit: Gaulke, Barbara Maybell (1933 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gaulke, Grimson, Ladd, Riese, Pedersen, Leonard, Statz, Thompson, forest, Pietrowski, Groleau

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 1/9/2024

Gaulke, Barbara Maybell (16 September 1933 – 9 January 2024)

Barbara Maybell (Ladd) Gaulke, age 90, of Colby, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Colby Senior Care under the tender care of St. Croix Hospice.

Barbara was born on September 16, 1933, in Cumberland, the daughter of William Ladd Sr and Katie (Grimson) Ladd. Barbara grew up in a small shack and contributed to chores and other tasks that helped benefit her family. She often told stories of her many adventures and exciting meetings with animals of the woods.

Barbara attended Cumberland High School and it was at that time her love for education, especially reading and learning, was instilled. Barbara worked hard to achieve her dream of receiving her college education. She attended UW River Falls, Kansas State University, UW Eau Claire and UW Superior, earning her degrees in elementary education, masters in reading education and masters in administration.

Barbara resided in Colby for over 65 years and was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Colby. Barbara’s career in education spanned 42 years with stops in the Owen-Withee District and Stratford Elementary as the elementary principal for many years. Barbara initiated and started an award winning Reading Education model at Stratford Elementary. Barbara saw Reading as the most important step for a child’s learning process. She was also chosen as Wisconsin State Principal of the year.

Barbara (mom, grandmother and great-grandmother) will always be remembered for her undying love of her family and her love of nature, birds and animals, especially her dogs. She was famous for her neighborhood Halloween parties and her jokes and pranks. She made it very clear that reading books to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was priority number one. Barbara was also an avid gardener and took care of many plants and trees, especially her beloved Catalpa trees.

Barbara is survived by her two sons: Greg Gaulke of River Falls, and Glenn (Jane) Gaulke of Belmont; five grandchildren; Heidi (Clint) Riese of River Falls, Kayla (Derrick) Pedersen of New Richmond, Erin (Justin) Leonard of Mineral Point, Elliott (Haley) Gaulke of Pine Island, MN and Eden (Anthony) Statz of Black Earth; ten great-grandchildren; Owen Leonard, Stella Leonard, Jack Leonard, Cassius Statz, Roman Statz, Quinn Gaulke, Lexi Gaulke, Colt Pedersen, Clara Pedersen and Jordy Riese. She is also survived by her brother, Jim Ladd of Cumberland, as well as her long time loving friend; Gerald Thompson.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents: her brother, William Ladd Jr and her sister, Shirley Forest as well as nephews, Larry Ladd, Ronny Ladd and Kelly Forest.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024, at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford. Rev. James Groleau will officiate. A visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Cumberland.

The family of Barbara would like to thank Caroline Pietrowski for all her visits as well as the Colby Senior Care staff.

In memory of mom, please read or donate a book to a child, with a hug.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.

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Obit: Kalepp, Lloyd Richard (1937 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kalepp, Bremer, Polzin, Bruce

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 1/9/2024

Kalepp, Lloyd Richard (28 February 1937 – 5 January 2024) with Flag

Lloyd Richard Kalepp, age 86, of Dorchester, unexpectedly passed away on January 5, 2024.

Lloyd was born to Clarence and Margaret (Bremer) Kalepp on February 28, 1937, in Dorchester. He was a devoted National Guard member, answering the call of duty during the Berlin Crisis.

After graduating from Dorchester High School, he dedicated his efforts to the family business. Starting with a dairy farm, that transformed into Kalepp Fish Farm, incorporating a Christmas Tree farm, logging, and diverse enterprises, ensuring year-round activity.

Remaining a bachelor, Lloyd found joy in the outdoors, indulging in hobbies such as hunting, photography, and earning a pilot’s license. A lifelong learner, he mastered the art of fixing and rehabilitating equipment, and even holding a patent with his father on an aerator. Lloyd's wealth of knowledge made him a valuable resource for many.

Guided by a strong faith in God, Lloyd exuded a good-natured personality, endearing him to all who crossed his path. Fondly remembered as a perpetual jokester, he infused gatherings with joy and laughter. His playful spirit and infectious sense of humor created enduring memories etched in our hearts.

Lloyd is survived by his sisters: Bonnie Polzin of Middleton and Bernice Kalepp of Medford. He is the proud uncle of four nephews and three nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Eugene.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Abbotsford, on Thursday, January 18, 2024. The Rev. Don Bruce will preside. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the church. Burial will follow at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Holton with Military Honors provided by the Dorchester American Legion Post #517. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lloyd, please visit our floral store.

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Obit: Luepke, Doreen Alice (1940 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Luepke, Mews, Theimer, Gottschalk, Westphal, Peters

----Source: Hanson-Schilling Funeral Home (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 1/9/2024

Luepke, Doreen Alice (13 August 1940 – 7 January 2024)

Doreen Alice Luepke, age 83, of Stratford, passed away peacefully in her home early Sunday morning, January 7, 2024.

Doreen was born August 13, 1940, the daughter of Edward and Frieda Mews in Unity. She graduated from Colby High School in 1958. On October 27, 1962, Doreen was united in marriage to David Luepke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Unity. They lived in Wauwatosa, where their daughter Dawn was born, until 1969. Then, they moved to Marshfield, where they owned a small farm and increased their family size by three boys, Dan, and twins Doug and Daryl. They later moved to a dairy farm in Stratford, where Doreen’s strong work ethic and dedication to family provided a solid foundation for her family’s successes.

Doreen had a long career at The Marshfield Medical Research Foundation where she was admired for her professionalism and dedication. For 25 years, she worked closely with medical professionals to prepare publications to obtain grant funding for special research projects.

In 1986 they left the farm and moved to their current home in rural Stratford where she enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and her pets Mandy and Rex. She especially loved spending time with her beloved grandchildren and treasured every moment that she got to spend with them. She always had a big smile on her face when they were around.

Doreen is lovingly survived by her husband David Luepke; her children: Dawn Theimer (Gregg) of Fort Myers, FL; Dan Luepke (Kris) of Stratford; Daryl Luepke of Rochester, MN; siblings: Jim Mews, Levi Mews, and Betty Gottschalk. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Darrin Luepke (McKenzie), Molly Westphal (Travis Peters) and Lorrie Luepke. Doreen was preceded in death by her parents, 7 siblings, and her son Douglas Luepke.

We will all miss her feisty spirit.

Memorial services will be held at Community Bible Church, 100 Fieldcrest Drive, Stratford, WI, on Saturday, January 13. Friends and family are welcome to visit from 9:30-11:00 a.m. A funeral service will commence at 11:00, followed by a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doreen Alice Luepke, please visit our floral store.

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Obit: Pickett, Jacqueline K. “Jackie” (1955 - 2024)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pickett, Hartl, Schulz, Much, Brubacher, Davis

----Source: Rembs Funeral Home (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 1/8/2024

Pickett, Jacqueline K. “Jackie” (7 December 1955 – 6 January 2024)

Jacqueline “Jackie” K. Pickett, 68, Spencer, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Marshfield Medical Center.

Jackie was born on December 7, 1955, in Marshfield, to Wayne Sr. and Marge (Hartl) Schulz. She grew up on the family farm in Spencer and graduated from Spencer High School in 1974. After this, Jackie attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and graduated with Spanish and English majors in 1978. Jackie went on to become a teacher, a profession that was always near and dear to her heart. She worked in various states, such as Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin she taught at New Auburn, Granton and Spencer, until her retirement in 2018.

She married her high school sweetheart, Brian D. Pickett, on July 1, 1978, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Spencer. They were able to have 42 wonderful years of marriage, until his passing in 2020. Together they enjoyed traveling, wine tasting, bird watching, bonfires and spending time with family.

Jackie was an avid reader and Wisconsin sports fan. She enjoyed the trips to Mexico with her Spanish classes, road trips with her family, and in recent years traveling with her friends and grandsons. Jackie also was an active volunteer with various programs through First Presbyterian Church.

Jackie is survived by her children, Dawn (Chad) Much of Unity, Benjamin (Lorrie) Pickett of Marshfield, her grandchildren, Brandon and Brody Much, her brothers, Ken (Carol) Schulz, Doug (Roxie) Schulz, Dennis Schulz, Wayne Jr (Mary) Schulz, and Rob (Jill) Schulz. She is further survived by a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and husband.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield where visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Rev. Dr. Laurie Brubaker Davis will officiate. Burial will be in West Spencer Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Soup or Socks.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.

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Bio: Knoll, Gene – Retires After 50 Years (Jan 2024

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Knoll, Sennholz

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 10 Jan 2024
Exactly 50 years to the day, Gene Knoll retired from Forward Bank leaving an industry that he enjoyed and influenced for decades.

Knoll started his banking career on January 4, 1974, with the Security State Bank in Colby as a loan officer and advanced within the bank to serve as president and CEO. When Security State Bank and the State Bank of Medford combined to form Mid-Wisconsin Bank, he served as president and CEO growing the footprint to include fourteen communities.

Forward Bank brought Knoll onto the team leading up to the entrance into the Medford community in 2010. As a vice president / senior commercial loan officer, he has served customers, guided processes, and mentored new team members. His experience helped to frame a growing organization for the second time in his career.

Dedicated to serving the communities that he has lived in Knoll served on the Colby City Council, Clark County Economic Development Board, and as the mayor of Colby. When he moved his family to Medford, he spent 10 years leading the Medford Economic Development Foundation, six years on the Taylor County Board of Supervisors, and as a Director at Banker’s Bank for six years.

The connections Knoll made personally and professionally have benefited countless businesses, community groups, and generations of individuals. Knoll gave thousands of volunteer hours to the youth of the area teaching Snowmobile Safety, helping with Hunter Safety, and grooming area snowmobile trails. His love of the outdoors was in action with the Taylor County Sportsman’s Club and as a delegate to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

“Gene has positively influenced all levels of the team at Forward – from executive leadership to new staff just learning about our industry,” commented Bill Sennholz, CEO of Forward. “His quiet comments and questions during meetings challenged us all to be better bankers and planners for the future of our communities. As colleagues and friends, we thank Gene for his years of mentoring and service and wish him well in his retirement.”

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