Obituaries from the week of January 31, 2007

Peter Glenn Church

Peter Glenn Church, 44, of Goodman, died Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. He was born November 17, 1962 in Iron Mountain, Mich., the son of Gordon and Helen (Czech) Church.

He married the former Jackie Milan in Armstrong Creek on December 26, 1988. Pete was employed for an underground utility company as a construction supervisor. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his parents, Gordon and Helen Church of Aurora; his wife, Jackie Church of Goodman; two sons, Peter Jr. and Dillon, at home; one daughter, Amanda at home; three brothers, Joe (dear friend Debbie) and Jon, both of Aurora, and Gerard (Linda) of Homestead; six sisters, Juanita (dear friend David Buress) of Lawrence, Kan., Kathryn (Raymond) Mianecki of Green Bay, Marilyn (William) Vassar of Aurora, Patricia (David) Menapace of Iron Mountain, Mich., Frances (Andrew) Herman, and Veronica Church, both of Niagara; aunts and uncles, Clifford Church of Aurora, William (Florence) Church of Fence, Marge DeClark of Kingsford, Mich.; father-in-law Joseph A. Milan of Armstrong Creek; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph Milan Jr., Sherrill (Ed) Phillion, Matt (Betsy) Milan, Dan (Jody) Milan, Me-chille (Gary) Klatt, Kathy (Cliff) Moberg, Bob (Jill) Milan, Mike (Amy) Milan, numerous nieces and nephews, numerous cousins and tons of special friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Andy and Mary Czech; paternal grandparents, Glen and Gertrude Church; aunt, Charlotte Church; uncles, Roger Church and Gary DeClark.

Visitation was held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Armstrong Creek, with the funeral mass following at noon. Father David Schmidt officiated. Burial was at 3:30 p.m. at the Aurora Homestead Cemetery in Aurora.

Messar Funeral Home of Wausaukee (715-856-5621) assisted the family.

Allen E. Littleton

Allen E. Littleton age 77, of Monico, died at his home on Saturday, January 27, 2007. Allen was born in Crandon on February 3, 1929, the son of the late Leo and Elsie (Kendley) Littleton.

Allen married Vivian White on August 24, 1957 at Crown Point, Indiana.

Allen worked as a self employed Equipment Operator. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Local #139. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and working in his garage.

Allen was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed by all.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian of Monico; five sons, Alan (Rita) Littleton of Crandon, Terry (Dawn) Littleton of Unity, Gary (Peggy) Littleton of Monico, Mitch (Paula) Littleton of Monico, David (Roseann) Littleton of Starks; two daughters, Debra (Lon) Gummersal of Soda Springs, Idaho, and Josie Littleton of Monico; two brothers, Richard (Sharon) Littleton of Monico, Orville (Bonnie) Littleton of Monico; two sisters, Darlene Jensen of Wausau, Connie (Gary) Pence of Albany; and sister-in-law, Betty Littleton of Sauk Village, Ill.

He was a special grandpa to 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Leo and Elsie Littleton, he is also preceded in death by four brothers, Ted, Jesse, Frank and Tim; one sister, Joy and an infant grandson, Anthony Littleton.

Pallbearers will be Cory, Craig, Jerod and Johnny Littleton, Clete Kulaf and Geoff Hansen.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon. Funeral services followed at noon with Pastor Bill Farr and Pastor Richard Littleton officiating. Interment will be at the Monico Cemetery.

Donald Edward McKeague

Donald Edward McKeague, age 93, of Argonne, died January 21, 2007 at his home surrounded by his family. Don was born in Green Bay on December 19, 1913 to the late Edward and Macie (Merryfield) McKeague.

When he was young, his family moved to Blackwell. Don attended grade school in Blackwell and graduated from Laona High School in 1932. After graduation, he moved to Crandon. Don met Pearl Wilson, and they were married on April 22, 1940 in Waukon, Iowa. They were married 63 years before Pearl died on November 13, 2003.

Don worked in several logging camps in Wisconsin and Michigan, worked at the distillery during the war, was a farmer, livestock cattle dealer, salesman for Patz Company in Pound and Madison Silo Company in Madison. He served on the Forest County Fair Board and the Lincoln Town Board for 16 years. Don gave his prohibition talk at the Crandon School for several years. He was a member of the Presbyterian and Methodist Church, Crandon.

Don was an avid Packer fan and started attending games in the 1930s at the old stadium. He liked deer hunting, always planted a big garden, loved to pick berries from his raspberry patch, and his morning coffee and socializing at the Log Cabin was a big favorite. Don had many friends and always had a story or joke to tell. He was also proud to be Irish. He liked spending time with his family; especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by two daughters, Darlene (Don) Kalz, Green Bay, Pat Jones (late Clifford Jones), Crandon; son, Ed McKeague, Crandon; two grandchildren, Gregory (Linda) Kalz, Green Bay, Genny (Gerald) King, Sun Prairie; great-grandchildren, Andy, Alex, and Emily Kalz, Green Bay, Tyler and Chris King, Sun Prairie; and sister-in-law, Delores Geske, Crandon. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Pearl, sister Dorothy Romo, and nephew, Rev. Ken Timm.

Honoring Don's wishes he will be cremated and a service will be held at a later date. Memorials appreciated to the Crandon Rescue Squad. The Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon, assisted the family with the arrangements.

Louise Smith

Louise Smith, age 87, of Tipler died Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at Nu-Roc Community Healthcare in Blackwell. She was born September 14, 1919 in Iron River, Mich., the daughter of the late John and Viola (Wilke) Reinke.

She attended the Iron River schools. She married Raymond Smith on June 20, 1939, in Iron River, and the couple made their home in Tipler. They celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary. Raymond preceded her in death on December 25, 1982.

Louise enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading and playing cards. The most important thing to her was her family and friends. She was a member of the Maple Grove Baptist Church in Tipler and the Ladies Aide of Tipler.

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by three sons, Blaine, Ronald, Rockford; three brothers, Harold Reinke, Tony Casagranda and Daniel Casagranda; sister, Helen Foucault, and great-granddaughter, Tonya Rae Gorr.

She is survived by sons, Riley (Madeline) Smith of Long Lake, Randy (Mary) Smith of North Pole, Alaska, Rayne (Pam) Smith of Pulaski; daughters, Roxanne (Pat) Brewer of Cavour, Rhonda (Tom) Gayhart of Westminster, Md., Ronetta (Gene) Clapsaddle of Tipler, Raeleen (Randy) Werth of Newald; brothers, Joe (Fran) Casagranda of Caspian, Mich., Pete (Colleen) Casagranda of Beloit; sisters, Rose Marie Ferguson of Vulcan, Mich., Ruth Pretto of Loretta, Mich., Chloe (Bill) Peterson of Chicago; sister-in-law, Eiko Casagranda of Crystal Falls; 22 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; special friends, Edna Howell and Josie Alsteen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held Sunday, January 28, 2007, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River, Mich. Funeral service was Monday, January 29, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Maple Grove Baptist Church in Tipler with Pastor Jason Heath officiating. Interment was at Martin Cemetery in Tipler. Pallbearers wee Jared Miller, Jeff Smith, Randy Smith, Matt Burton, Grant Wojta, and Duane Lombardini.

Funeral arrangements were by the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River, Mich.

Barbara Jean Nelson

Barbara Jean (Bond) Nelson, 69, of Crandon died suddenly on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

She was born in Portales, N.M., on July 23, 1937 to Luke and Ibbie (Joplin) Bond. Barb was raised in Quanah, Texas but spent significant time in the Dakotas and Colorado on the family's farms.

She graduated in 1955 from Onida High School, Onida, S.D. Following graduation, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for one of the many construction companies contracted for the Owahii Dam in Pierre, South Dakota. Here she met Iver W. Nelson, a Civil Engineer who was also working on the Dam. She and Iver were married May 23, 1957 in Pierre, where they spent the first seven years of their marriage and welcomed a son, Kelly C., and daughter, Kaye C. From there they moved to Parshall, N.D. and finally to Crandon in 1964, where their youngest child, Kimberly C. was born.

During her 43 years in this area, Barb worked for The Crandon National Bank as a legal secretary and finally as the treasurer for the City of Crandon. She was instrumental in writing the application for the Community Development Block Grant that the City was awarded and subsequently served on the CDBG Committee. She was also an active member of the Crandon Library Board and served as a volunteer for both The Crandon Area Rescue Squad and The Brush Run 101 in their early years.

Barb was well-known for her outstanding abilities as a seamstress. Over the years she sewed numerous wedding gowns, bridesmaids and prom dresses, majorette and cheerleading uniforms and dozens of meticulously tailored clothes for her grandchildren.

As well as sewing, her many hobbies included reading, puzzles, soduku, bridge, solitaire, dominoes, knitting and crocheting, to name a few. However, she especially enjoyed spoiling her beloved cat Emma. A fabulous cook, Barb remained true to her roots with her Southern Hospitality, and as everyone knew, was a master at the art of socializing. She will long be remembered for her lively spirit and love of children.

Barbara Jean Nelson is survived by her husband of 49 years, Iver; three children, Kelly (Kerri) Nelson of River Falls, Dr. Kaye (Joel) Mickelson of Lakeville, Minn., K.C. (Steve) Hrkal of Plymouth, Minn.; three grandsons; six granddaughters and an uncle, Jack (Kay) Bond of Sturgis, S.D.

Visitation was held Sunday, January 21, at the Weber-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services followed on January 22 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Crandon. Internment was at The Crandon Lakeside Cemetery. Pallbearers included sons-in-law, Steve Hrkal and Joel Mickelson; grandsons, Drew Mickelson, Clay Mickelson and Nick Nelson and close family friend, Jeff Kau.

Weber-Hill Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.