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

Mary Elizabeth Pichotta

Mary Elizabeth Pichotta died at her home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

Born in Wabeno March 11, 1914, Mary was the eighth of nine children born to John and Caroline Pichotta. She attended elementary and secondary school in Wabeno and graduated from Wabeno High School in 1932. Following her graduation, she assisted her family with the operation of Pichotta Hotel in Wabeno. Several years later, she moved to Mayville to work for her brother, Dr. John Pichotta, DDS, as a receptionist in his dental practice. While in her late 20’s, she attended and graduated from St. Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac and was certified as a registered nurse. Most of Mary’s nursing career was spent as a psychiatric nurse for the Veterans Administration. She rendered service in Danville, Ill., Tomah, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Pa. and Los Angeles, Calif. A permanent move to California was made in 1962. She continued her work with the V.A., retiring in 1974.

Mary was widely traveled, visiting six of the seven continents several times. Although Antarctica always held a special fascination for her, a visit ultimately eluded her. In keeping with her generous spirit, family and friends were always remembered with mementos from her travels.

She enjoyed and actively participated in sports, especially tennis, golf, swimming, hiking and both Nordic and Alpine skiing. Spectator sports, including baseball, basketball, football, tennis and golf also held a great interest for her. Although she had been a resident of California for 46 years, she remained a staunch Green Bay Packers fan, attending games whenever possible.

No stranger to Forest County, Mary spent most summer and Christmas vacations in Wabeno until the early 1990’s, visiting her sister, Margaret Brandt, and brothers, Bernard and Harold Pichotta. She always treasured her trips back to Wisconsin, a place she still considered “home.”

In January 1994, she was a victim of the earthquake that devastated Northridge, Calif. Her entire apartment complex on Reseda Blvd. was damaged and she was forced to reside in Red Cross shelters for over a month. Ironically, she moved back into the reconstructed complex at the same address a year and one-half later.

Mary was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret of Wabeno and Helen of Wabeno; and six brothers, Raymond of Wabeno, Bernard of Wabeno, Harold of Wabeno, Paul of Belleville, Ill., Francis of Waukesha and John. She is survived by three nieces and seven nephews.

Final arrangements were handled by Neptune Society-Los Angeles, Calif.

Edward William “Bill” Schenk

Edward William “Bill” Schenk, age 70, formerly of Wabeno, passed in Racine on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 after a brave battle with cancer. He was born in Wabeno on Oct. 27, 1938, son of the late Edward and Letha (nee: Martin) Schenk, Sr. Edward served our country with honor in the U.S. Air Force. On April 2, 1966 in Duluth, Minn., he was wed to Phyllis Ann VanCuren. He had been a Sturtevant resident since 1973.

Edward graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1975, and had a successful career as an Industrial Engineer with several area companies, most recently with Strattec Manufacturing in Milwaukee. He loved to play cribbage and chess, and was a loyal fan of the Badgers, Packers and Brewers. Ed was an avid history buff and was also interested in astronomy. He was an unmatched “family man” whose wife and children were always his first priority. Ed was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sturtevant.

He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis; their children, Steven Schenk of S. Milwaukee, Edward R. Schenk of Cave Creek, Ariz., Jennie Schenk of Los Angeles, Calif. and Heather (fiancé – Erich Angel) Schenk of Franklin; his sister, Leticia Wellnitz of Elm Grove; and many other relatives and friends. His sisters, Lorraine Tokar and Laone Krauss, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at Faith Lutheran Church in Sturtevant, and he was laid to rest at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove. Memorials to the Faith Lutheran Church have been suggested. Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home (262-552-9000) at 4600 County Line Road in Racine is handling the arrangements.

Karen F. Shampo

Karen F. Shampo, age 61, of Crandon, passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She was born Dec. 15, 1946 in Helena, Mount., the daughter of the late George and Alice (Bingham) Stamper.

Karen worked at the Crandon Nursing Home for 20 years. She enjoyed playing games, fishing, camping, being outside as much as she could, spending time with family and friends; especially her three granddaughters, watching the Packers every time they played, listening to country music and in more recent years traveling and enjoying life. Karen was finally able to get her dream car, a PT Cruiser. She is greatly loved by all her family and friends and will be missed by all.

Karen is survived by daughters, Tammy (Merlin) Retzlaff of Laona and Brenda Weber (Roy Polar) of Crandon; grandchildren, Samantha, Alicia and Isabella; brother, George (Patty) Stamper; nieces and nephews, Brent (Beth) Stamper, Shawn Stamper, Gina (Mike) Votis, Keith (Kim) Stamper, Travis (Jodi) Stamper and their families; brothers and sisters-in-law, Sharon (Gordon) Gerald, Mike (Sally) Weber, Mary Jacobs, Helen Nixon, Tom (Cathy) Weber, Dan (Julie) Weber and their families. She is further survived by other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alice and George; husband, James Weber; son, Allen James Weber; and brother, Dale Stamper.

A gathering of family and friends was on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Lakeland Baptist Church of Crandon. Memorial Service followed at 11 a.m. with Pastor David West officiating. Weber-Hill Funeral Home of Crandon is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Marguerite Ann Tarlton

Marguerite Ann Tarlton, age 65, of Wabeno, died at her daughter’s home in Crandon after a long illness.

Marguerite was born in Wabeno on Dec. 24, 1942 to Vern and Ann (Heinemann) Champeau. She has lived in the area all of her life, graduating from Wabeno High School.

On Aug. 12, 1961, she married Lyman Tarlton at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wabeno. He passed away on May 18, 1990.

Marguerite was a life–long and faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and was very involved with the Ladies Aid.

She enjoyed making crafts especially out of wood and selling these items at craft shows. Her family will remember her for all the tasty bakery she made especially the hundreds of Christmas cookies.

She is survived by her mother, Ann Carlisle of Wabeno; four children, Kristine (Tom) Dehart of Crandon, Michelle (Jim) Smith of Wabeno, Tim (Marilyn) Tarlton of Wabeno and Todd (Roberta) Tarlton of Rosebush, Mich.; one sister, Mary Jane (David) McEwen of Wabeno; one brother, David (Sue) Champeau of Green Bay; fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a special friend and companion who had been very close to her and her family, Dale Adams of Wabeno.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her father.

The visitation was on Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Wabeno. Officiating is Rev. Craig Korth. Interment is in the Church Cemetery. Suminski Funeral Home of Wabeno assisting the family. Send online condolences to suminskifuneral.com.

Dolores M. McMillion

Dolores M. McMillion, 78 years, of Woodruff, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 at Golden Living Center-Dorchester in Sturgeon Bay.

She was born April 8, 1930 in Milwaukee, the daughter of the late Charles and Frida (Zastow) Randula. Dolores graduated from Plainfield High School in 1948.

She worked as a high school secretary.

Dolores was a member of Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Woodruff. Her hobbies involved crocheting, painting ceramics, reading, collecting Barbie Dolls and many other things. She loved dogs and cats, traveling and waterfalls.

Survivors include her three sons, Jim (Mary) Hartwig, Chuck (Mary) Hartwig and John (fiancé, Allison Fahrenkrug) McMillion; grandchildren, Jim Hartwig, Ann (Steve) Belter, Amanda Hartwig, Steve McMillion, Sara (Josh) Engelland, Tom McMillion; and great-grandchildren, Alex McMillion and Riley Engelland.

Preceding her in death were her parents and brother, Charles Randula.

There will be a memorial service held on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at 1 p.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Crandon. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m.

Sign guest book and offer condolences at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

MaryAnn (Yogerst) Moser

MaryAnn Moser (nee Yogerst), age 85, of St. Lawrence and Hiles, entered heavens gates on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 at her residence.

MaryAnn was born on March 23, 1923 in Richfield to Nicholas and Mary (nee Weis) Yogerst. She married Joseph Moser on Sept. 5, 1942 at Holy Angels Catholic Church. She was a member of St. Lawrence Christian Mothers for many years.

She enjoyed spending time with her friends at Pine Lake. MaryAnn loved family gatherings and cooking for her grandchildren.

MaryAnn is survived by her husband, Joseph; and children, Kenneth (Trudy) of St. Lawrence, Donald (Laura) Moser of Pittsburg, Pa., Irene (Kent) Hughey of Hubertus, Linda (Glenn) Stumpf of Cedarburg and Paul (Ronie) Moser of De Forest. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Fred Moser, Melanie Buckmann, Jessica Rock, Justin Hughey, Adam Hunt, Katie Ngumba, Nicholas Moser, Emily Moser and Alex Moser; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian burial for MaryAnn was on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church (4886 Hwy 175, Hartford) with Father Joseph Dominic officiating. Interment will take place at St. Lawrence Cemetery on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. Visitation was at the church only on Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 3 p.m. until time of mass (6 p.m.).

A special thank you to the staff at Riverway Place and Vitas Hospice for their loving care of MaryAnn.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend, (262) 338-2050 / www.phillipfuneralhome.com, is assisting the family.

Willard “Bill” Lueders

Willard “Bill” Lueders, age 93, passed away Dec. 17, 2008. Bill was born March 17, 1915 in Milwaukee. He graduated from Florence High School in Florence in 1933. He had lived in King City, Oregon since 1989.

Bill was a member of the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) in the early 30’s. He worked for Conner Lumber and Land Company until 1944 and also ran Silver Lake Pavilion after his father’s death in 1937.

During World War II, Bill worked for the Allen Bradley Company in Milwaukee until the end of the war in 1945, then joined the Fred Olson Transportation Company where he started as a driver and worked his way up to the position of Vice President of Operations for Milwaukee and Chicago. He retired from Olson in 1977.

His wife, Theresa Ann Klescewski, who died in 1987 from Alzheimer’s disease and his parents, Arthur and Ella Lueders, preceded Bill in death.

Surviving Mr. Lueders is his wife, Carole, whom he married in 1989; his son, Duane and daughter-in-law, Janet of Lago Vista, Texas; granddaughter, Eleni Lueders; great-granddaughter Clara of Grand Prairie, Texas; and sister, Dorothy Larson of Ocala, Fla. Bill also had four step-daughters, Judith, Sue, Kristin and Connie and seven step-grandchildren.

Mr. Lueders’ ashes will be buried in Armstrong Creek.

The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Alzheimer’s or Cancer Foundation.

Delphine “Del” R. Gadbois

Delphine “Del” R. Gadbois, age 84, formerly of the Marinette area, passed away Dec. 12, 2008 at Hoffman’s Paradise CBRF in Armstrong Creek. She was born in Porterfield on the family farm on Nov. 5, 1924. She was one of seven daughters and two sons of the late Fred and Lillian (Raynier) Cloutier.

Del enjoyed gardening, flowers, traveling, her family and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert Gadbois, Jr., originally from Menominee, Mich. and a resident of Hoffman’s Paradise in Armstrong Creek; a daughter, Susan (Robert) Kuehn of Armstrong Creek; two sons, John Gadbois of Milwaukee and James (Susan) Gadbois of Kewaskum; seven grandchildren, Dan and Kristin Kuehn, Michael, Tony, JamieSue and Dennis Gadbois and Charisse Gdaniec; and eight great-grandchildren, Jacob, Alex and Christian Kuehn, Irland, Kaitlyn, Taylor and Tylor Gadbois and Samantha Gdaniec.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Hoffman’s Paradise CBRF in Armstrong Creek. Condolences may be sent to Robert Gadbois at 9351 State Hwy. 101, Armstrong Creek, WI 54103. Weber-Hill Funeral Home of Crandon assisted the family with the arrangements.

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