The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Lucas W. “Luke” Dennison

Lucas W. “Luke” Dennison, age 30, of Green Bay, passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008. Luke was born in Rhinelander on March 17, 1978, the son of William and Beverly (Brokmeier) Dennison.

Luke loved to laugh, he loved his family and his fiancée, and he lit up the room with his smile. Luke also loved the outdoors whether camping, four-wheeling, fishing, or just walking through the woods. He was a delight to all who knew him and our world will never be the same without him.

He is survived by his fiancée, Heather Spude of Green Bay; parents, Bill and Bev Dennison of Crandon; brother, Jesse (Stacey) Dennison of Crandon; nephew and niece, Cole and Alyssa Dennison; maternal grandfather, Alvin Brokmeier of Argonne; and paternal grandmother, Ione Dennison. He is further survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Gail Brokmeier; paternal grandfather, Chet Dennison; aunt, Ann Kulaf; and uncle, Dale Brokmeier.

Visitation was held on Friday, Oct. 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Weber-Hill Funeral Home in Crandon. Funeral services followed at 11 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Marvin Singh officiating. Interment was at Argonne Town Cemetery.

Evelyn Marie Jeranek

Evelyn Marie Jeranek, age 89, of Townsend, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 at the Nu-Roc Community Health Care Center in Blackwell. Evelyn was born in Racine on Nov. 24, 1918, the daughter of the late Walter and Jennie (Plocek) Kilman.

Evelyn grew up in Townsend and after her marriage to Carl Jeranek on Oct. 23, 1937, they moved to Richfield. After their retirement, they returned to Townsend where they lived out a very happy retirement. Evelyn was a faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church in Townsend. She was very involved in the Ladies Aid and sang in the church choir. She also loved cooking and baking.

She is survived by daughter, Barbara (James) Becker of Crandon; son, Carl C. (June) Jeranek of Bemidji, Minn.; sister, Phyllis Stickels of Grayslake, Ill.; sister-in-law, Rosemary Kilman of Grayslake, Ill.; brothers-in-law, Elmer Jeranek of Lakewood and Barney Jeranek of Lakewood; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Carl; a daughter, Dorothy; her parents; three sisters; and one brother.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Suminski Funeral Home in Wabeno. Memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Sheldon Kerstner officiating.

Dolores L. Bocek

Dolores L. Bocek, born in Milwaukee on May 2, 1926, found peace on Oct. 11, 2008 at the age of 82, in Milwaukee, where she resided.

Dolores had a love for children and showed it as she ran a daycare on Norwich St. for more than 30 years. Her favorite thing to do consisted of marathon card games with her family and friends. Christmas will never be the same without her warm and elaborate loving celebrations. She loved to cook and was a very loving, caring and special person to many.

Dolores was the proud and loving mother of Judy Bocek, Karen (the late Gustave Sr.) DeBaker, James Bocek, Robert (Lynn) Bocek, Mark Bocek all of Milwaukee, and Paul (Jackie) Bocek; proud and loving grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 11; loving sister of Geraldine Rogonski of Milwaukee; sister-in-law to Marie Peterson, Anne Letto, June Houle and Marcella Gretzinger; and brother-in-law to Jerry Bocek, all of Crandon. She is survived by daughters, sons, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Frances Schott; sister, Pat Harmeyer; grandson, Craig Ekker; son-in-law, Gus DeBaker, all of Milwaukee; and ex-husband, Edward H. Bocek of Hiles.

She was laid to rest in St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008.

Eugene Henry “Gene” Resch

Eugene Henry “Gene” Resch of Crandon passed away unexpectedly at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander on Oct. 22, 2008.

Gene was born on Dec. 30, 1921 in Menasha to Emelia and Phillip Resch. He graduated from Menasha High School where he was a stand out football player for the Menasha Blue Jays. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Borenz on Sept. 3, 1945.

Gene was a supervisor at Marathon Paper Corporation until he and Betty moved to Crandon in 1954 where he was a typesetter and printer at the Forest Republican. He also worked at Himes Lumber Company and Lutterman Hardware. Gene and Betty owned and successfully operated Resch Haven Resort on Lake Metonga for many years. As an accomplished tradesman, Gene enlarged the three cottage resort by designing and constructing three additional cottages.

Gene was an active community member. He actively served in the VFW and DAV as well as the VFW Honor Guard. He enjoyed contributing the bratwurst to the annual VFW picnic. Gene was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed greeting and ushering the congregation and welcoming visitors. He was a member of the Lake Metonga Association.

Gene passionately loved living in the Northwoods of Crandon. He “worked in the woods” until the last week of his life, always on the lookout for bald eagles, blue herons, loons and ducks. He enjoyed the change of seasons and observing deer and all creatures Mother Nature provided. Gene took pride in his ability to grow grapes in this climate as well as nurturing flowers and trees. Gene could be seen each season on the lake fishing for jumbo perch and trying to catch the walleye with the “golf ball eyes.” During quiet times, he was an avid reader and especially liked history.

Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He shared his love of all living creatures with the young ones as they joined his family, taking the children on his lap to explain the wonders of a beautiful flower or to point out the latest group of ducklings on the lake. He enjoyed meeting folks in town and sharing a handshake, a smile and a friendly greeting.

Gene is survived by his brother, Greg (Irene “Jackie”) Resch of Menasha; two children, Patricia Cottle of Sheboygan and Phillip (Rosemary) Resch of Palo Alto, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Wenda (Gino) Pagliaro and Justin Resch of Santa Barbara, Calif., Nathan (Amanda) Resch of San Diego, Calif., Alyssa (Spencer) Nauman of Fort Collins, Colo., and Kelsi Cottle(Nicholas) Pasquale, Kea Cottle, and Zebulon Cottle of Sheboygan; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth “Betty”; his brother, Roman; and his sister, Hildegard “Rusty.”

Visitation was held on Monday, Oct. 27 at the Weber–Hill Funeral Home in Crandon followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Ralph Gillis officiating. Internment was in Crandon Lakeside Cemetery.

Memorials are appreciated in Gene’s name for the Forest County Honor Guard/VFW and the Lake Metonga Association.

Ann M. Pavlovich

Ann M. Pavlovich, age 85, a longtime resident of Marenisco, and current resident of Ironwood, entered into her eternal home, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, at the Mather Nursing Center in Ishpeming, in the caring hands of the Mather Nursing staff and the U.P. Home, Health and Hospice.

Ann was born June 23, 1923, in Crandon, daughter of the late Thomas and Katherine (Chaney) Gumm. She attended school in Crandon.

On Nov. 30, 1942, Ann was united in marriage with Thomas Pavlovich. He preceded her in death on June 7, 1986. After Tomπs return from service to his country, Ann and Tom moved to Kenosha, and then Marenisco in 1955, where they resided until 1986.

Ann then moved to the Sunset Manor Apartments in Wakefield for two years and then to Wildwood Apartments in Ironwood, where she resided until May of 2008, when she entered the Mather Nursing Center in Ishpeming.

In her younger years, Ann enjoyed baking and embroidery. In the past few years, she became a Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed watching all of the Packers’ games. She especially enjoyed watching Brett Favre play, and was always concerned he would be injured during a game.

Her family was the joy of her life, and she especially enjoyed visits from her granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren.

Ann is survived by one daughter, Janis (Dennis) Mattila of Ishpeming; two granddaughters, Melissa Sorenson of Ishpeming and Melanie (James) Gagnon of Birnamwood; seven great-grandchildren, Philip, Austin and Thomas Sorenson, and Helia, Joshua, Annaliese and Ella Gagnon; two sisters, Lydia Crum and Flossie Murray; a brother-in-law, Joe Padour; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a stillborn baby boy; brothers, Herman, Clyde and Coleman Gumm; sisters, Ethel May, Gypsie, Georgetta Stankowski and Frankie Padour; and several brothers-in-law.

Funeral services were held at the Community Presbyterian Church in Marenisco on Friday, Oct. 24 at noon, with the Rev. Mary Kinney-Kangas officiating. Visitation was Friday from 11 a.m. to noon at the church. Burial was at the Marenisco Cemetery.

Pallbearers were great-grandsons, Philip, Austin and Thomas Sorenson; former grandson-in-law, Kevin Sorenson; and friends, James Rouse and Dennis Rolando.

Arrangements were with Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc. in Wakefield.

John “Jack” D. Roberts

John "Jack" D. Roberts, age 69, of Long Lake, died Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 at his home. Born Aug. 18, 1939 in Iron River, Mich., the son of George and Mary (Sensiba) Roberts, he was a lifelong resident of the area. He graduated from Florence High School and attended Michigan Technical University in Houghton, Mich.

He married the former Edythe "Cookie" Ritchie June 26, 1965 in Crystal Falls, Mich. and the couple made their home in Long Lake. They celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary this year.

Jack worked with his father in the woods until his father passed away. He was then employed as a custodian at the Florence Public Schools for over 20 years.

He was a member of St. Norberts Catholic Church of Long Lake, the Knights of Columbus, and he served on the C.E.S.A. Board and the Florence School Board. He loved his family and was greatly loved in return by them. He enjoyed gardening, sports and decorating his home for the Christmas season.

He was preceded in death by his father, George and a sister, Barbara Cole.

He is survived by his wife, Edythe "Cookie"; his mother, Mary Roberts of Iron River; son, Neil Roberts of Eagle River; daughter, Lisa (Bruce) Nichols of Tipler; sisters, Judy (Tom) Hoffman of Florence, Kathy Barber of Long Lake and Susan Wells of Tipler; brother-in-law, Doug Cole of Long Lake; and three grandchildren, Blake, Shane and Paige Nichols.

Visitation was Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River. Funeral service was Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 at 11 a.m. at St. Norberts Catholic Church in Long Lake with the Rev. John Cerkas, pastor, offering the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment was at Long Lake Cemetery in Long Lake.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of John "Jack" D. Roberts online at www.jacobsfuneralhomeir.com.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River.

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