Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral and Cremation

04/05/2026

Easter offers a moment of renewal, reflection, and the celebration of enduring hope. We extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and peaceful day to all who observe.

04/03/2026

Jean K. Howick

Jean K. Howick, 91, of Merrill passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, following a very courageous battle with cancer.

Jean was born in London, England to Charles and Edna ‘Kathy’ Howick. She came to the United States in the early 50’s and settled in the Minneapolis area. In the early 70’s, the family relocated to Merrill.

Jean spent her Merrill career at M.A.P.S. as secretary to the superintendent. It was a position she enjoyed and while there made many life-long friends.

Jean enjoyed world travel and, on many occasions, encouraged friends to join in the adventures. She also enjoyed traveling the U.S. Many stateside adventures were with her English cousins Ian and Jill Simmons, who visit Merrill regularly.

Jean enjoyed bridge club, Red Hats, and sorority get-togethers. She was a hospital volunteer and also lead water aerobics classes. She volunteered her time with Park City Gardens as well.

She was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Merrill.

Jean is survived by her daughter, Karen (Jim) Schooley; grandchildren, Colin (Jillian) Schooley and Sarah (Mike) Van Der Geest; great grandchildren, Adalyn and Beckett Schooley, and Essa and Noah Van Der Geest; as well as grandson, Justin Foehringer. She is further survived by Ian, Jill, and other cousins in the U.K. Jean was preceded in death by her son, Mark Foehringer.

The family would like to thank her amazing friends who, when she was no longer up for phone calls or visits, sent prayers, cards, notes, and flowers, especially Marla for coming to our house for one last “best day of the month” massage.

We would also like to thank Compassus Hospice whose kind and knowledgeable staff enabled the family to keep Mom with us for the last month of her life.

Love and Blessings to you all.

A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation of Merrill is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com

View Jean K. Howick's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/02/2026

April marks National Donate Life Month, a time to honor the families and individuals who have chosen to give the extraordinary gift of life through organ donation. We are privileged to support many of these families, whose loved ones’ generosity has offered profound hope and healing to those in need. If you are considering becoming a donor, your decision could save lives and change the future for many.

Learn more today: https://hubs.la/Q046qSz60

04/01/2026

Theresa Marie Renken

Theresa “Terry” M. Renken (nee Wianecki) was born October 13, 1939 at her parent’s home in the town of Kronenwetter, Mosinee, Wisconsin to the late Felix and Stella (Ogonowski) Wianecki. She was received into God’s kingdom of grace through the waters of Baptism in 1939 and received Holy Communion in 1952 at St. Paul Catholic Church of Mosinee. Theresa converted to the Lutheran faith and was confirmed in April of 1959.

Theresa graduated from St. Paul Catholic School in 1954 and from Mosinee High School in 1958.

During her high school years, Theresa worked as a “pinboy” at a Mosinee bowling alley, watched children in the summer, and worked the piece line at Rondo cheese factory in Mosinee.

Theresa met David Renken in 1957. On weekends, they would go dancing either at Colonial Ballroom or Schmidt’s Ballroom. They married on October 18, 1958. During the early years of their marriage, Theresa held various jobs including office work at Marathon Electric in Wausau, office work at Livingston’s Department store in Merrill, worker at the Gardners Bakery in Schofield, and as a waitress at Dick’s Riverside Supper Club in Merrill.

On December 26, 1962, Theresa and David bought their farm in the town of Pine River. During their 32 years of farming and raising three children, Theresa worked part-time at Northern Wire pieces/welding lines, Northern Door assembly line, 29 Super Market bakery, Badger Evergreens Farm making Christmas wreaths and garland, John Muir Middle School kitchen, and then she transferred to Maine Elementary School as the night custodian. The farm was sold in April 1995, and Theresa continued working at Maine Elementary School until she retired in July 2011 at the age of 71. Per Theresa, “I loved my job, the staff and all the children. That always made my day.”. After farming and well into retirement, Theresa played a major role in helping raise a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Theresa enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends. She always made enough food to feed an Army. Theresa enjoyed planting and harvesting her garden, feeding the birds, tending to her indoor plants and outdoor floral gardens, decorating her home for the holidays, crafting, coloring, reading her Portals of Prayer, listening and watching Daniel O’Donnell sing, helping others in need, and spoiling her family with unconditional love. She cherished planning family gatherings, especially during holidays, and was always interested in following the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include children Alan (Doreen) Renken of Merrill and Pam (William ‘Bill’) Switalski of Des Plaines, Illinois; grandchildren, Melissa (Jesse) Tessmer of Milwaukee, Chris (Robyn) Renken of Merrill, Jenna (Zach) Lezotte of Merrill, Anthony (Becky) Renken of Merrill, Matt (Ashley) Renken of Hudson, and Heather Young of Merrill; great-grandchildren, Mason, Caden, Emberly, Keaton, Lexi, Jersey, Braxton, Hunter, Harley, Kira and Erik; sister Rose Windorski of California; sister Pat Lahr of Wausau; brother Ray (Betty) Wianecki of Mosinee; sister-in-law Rosemary Wianecki of Eagle River; Carol Scheel of Wausau; Sharon (Lenny) Koziel of Wausau, and Mae Eckardt of Merrill; brother-in-law Marvin (Donna) Hartwig of Merrill.

Theresa was preceded in death by her husband David; son, Michael Renken; parents, Felix and Stella Wianecki; brothers Joe Wianecki and Stanley Wianecki; in-laws Ray Windorski; Janis and Jim Framke; Joyce and Jack Bitcon; Barbara and John Renken; Lorene Renken and Donald Eckardt; nephews John Wianecki; Rick Renken; and Doug Framke.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Scott Gustafson will officiate. Burial will take place at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, April 10, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill and again at the church after 10:00 A.M. Saturday. Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services, Merrill, is assisting the family.

The family requests that any memorials be given to Trinity Lutheran Church in memory of Theresa Renken.

View Theresa Marie Renken's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/31/2026

Ralph H. Schulz

Ralph H. Schulz, 86, of Merrill, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 28, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Ralph was born March 25, 1940, in Merrill, son of Harry and Erna (Berndt) Schulz. He graduated from Merrill High School with the class of 1959. He married Bernice Christine Schult on June 19, 1965. She preceded him in death on January 26, 2025.

Ralph enjoyed cooking and baking, camping and in his younger years, fishing. His love for these things is evident in the jobs he had in his adult life.

Ralph’s work history included working as a cook and bartender in Boulder Junction, WI and at Club Modern in Merrill. He worked at Wausau Homes in Wausau and then Seeger’s Dairy in Merrill. He then took a position in maintenance with the Merrill Housing Authority in 1988 and retired in 2005.

In his younger years, Ralph worked on the Fromm Farm and his father-in-law’s mink farm, and sold shoes for Mason Shoe Company and housewares for Miracle Maid.

Ralph enjoyed working part-time at Eddie’s Bakery and J&J Baking both in Merrill. He also cooked for various occasions for the V.F.W. in Fremont, WI. He spent several summers at North Forest Campground in Tomahawk working as the assistant maintenance man. In his 70’s, Ralph worked as a dishwasher at Ike’s Café in Tomahawk. Ralph had also worked for Meunier’s Carpet Cleaning. Ralph served as chairman of Snow Hill Cemetery for over 35 years and stepped down from that position in 2025.

Ralph was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill. He enjoyed spending time cooking and baking for the Church fair stand and assisting with the funeral luncheon group at church. He enjoyed making pies for the fair stand, neighbors, and friends.

He loved watching his grandkids and spending time with them. He loved his cats and dogs.

Survivors include his children, Gary (Vicki) Schulz and Christine Brown (Randy Springer) both of Merrill; grandchildren, Haley (Daleth) Jacobsen and Zachary T. Brown both of Merrill; sisters, Elaine Hoff of Merrill, Dorothy Hagedorn of Merrill, and Barbara Turner of Florida; and brother, Jerome Schulz (Mary Buksyk) of New London, WI.

Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Schulz; parents, Harry and Erna Schulz; infant son; sister, Ruth (Lloyd Sr.) Buck; brothers, Lylas Schulz and Edgar Schulz; and brothers-in-law, Donald Hoff, Milton Hagedorn, and Arthur Turner; and sister-in-law, Dorothea (Lawrence) Baneck.

The funeral service for Ralph will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. Rev. Neely Owen will officiate. Burial will take place at Snow Hill Cemetery, Town of Scott, Lincoln County. The visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation – 903 E. Third St., Merrill and after 10:00 A.M., Friday, April 10, 2026 at the church.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com

View Ralph H. Schulz's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/26/2026

Michael Peeters

Michael (Mike) Peeters, age 75, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with cancer on March 25, 2026. Mike was born on April 25, 1950 to the late Harold and Elizabeth (Peterson) Peeters in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Mike attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and then Merrill High School. After school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1969 to 1972 with tours in Vietnam, Cuba and Okinawa. After service he met and married the love of his life Kathy Haring. They were married on June 11, 1977. Mike worked various jobs after he served, one being Semco where he worked for 20 years before deciding to try a career in truck driving. He worked for Wausau Homes until he retired in 2013.

Mike enjoyed the Brewers, Packers, hunting and fishing. He will be greatly missed by his family and his fur baby, Lady.

Mike is survived by his wife, Kathy, daughters: Kim Peeters and Hope Wolff, son: Jason (Heather) Wolff, grandkids: Katie (Tyler) Milazzo, Samantha (Sabastian) Jourdan, Jesse and Cody Kleinschmidt, Aaron (Sidney) Wolff and Allison Wolff, great grandkids: Eli, October and Ava, sister: Sharon (Denny) Karow, and brothers: Brian (Stacey) Peeters, and David (Lori) Peeters.

He is proceeded in death by his mother and father, mother and father-in-law: Emil and Audrey Haring, sisters: Dawn Smith, and Marge Ranker, sister-in-law: Penny Haring, and brother-in-law: Emil Haring Jr.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the nurses, CNA’s at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and the hospice nurses at Aspirus Comfort Care for caring for Mike during this difficult time.

A celebration of life will take place on April 25, 2026 at the Eagle’s Club in Merrill, Wisconsin from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

View Michael Peeters's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/25/2026

Patricia Utecht

Patricia Utecht, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2026, in Irma, Wisconsin. Born on March 28, 1944, in Merrill, Wisconsin, to the late Ernest and Nila (Hopperdietzel) Roesler. Patricia lived a life enriched by family, sports, and a passion for the simple joys of everyday moments.

Throughout her life, Patricia balanced her role as a loving mother with part-time work at Cloverbelt Cheese in Edgar, Wisconsin, where her late husband served as a licensed cheesemaker. Her dedication extended beyond her professional and familial duties; she was an avid sports enthusiast known for her spirited love of college basketball and her undeniable skill as a bowler during her younger years.

Her youngest son, Jason, fondly recalls coming home from school to find his mother ready and eager to engage in any game or sport he wished to play. This readiness to connect through play was a testament to the strong bond she nurtured with her three sons when they were growing up.

Beyond the realm of sports, Patricia was an accomplished baker, delighting family and friends alike with her wide array of homemade goodies. In her younger years, she and her husband enjoyed traveling together, with memorable trips to Las Vegas. Later in life, Patricia found joy in quieter pursuits such as crossword puzzles and playing cards.

Patricia spent time cultivating her garden, finding peace and satisfaction in nurturing the plants that surrounded her home. She also took pleasure in caring for the local wildlife, often feeding birds and deer. Following the passing of her husband, Patricia found comfort and companionship in taking leisurely walks with friends and enjoying outings for coffee.

Patricia is survived by her three sons, Steven Utecht, Michael Utecht, and Jason (Wendy Wiesman) Utecht.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband.

No services are scheduled at this time.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

View Patricia Utecht's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/24/2026

Gladys Walker

Gladys Ann Walker, age 89, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026, while at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. She was born on March 26, 1936 to the late Edward Sr. and Ann (Wolfink) Glisch in Antigo, WI.

Gladys worked for Walgreens in Tennessee for many years until her retirement. She looked forward to long road trips, especially to warm places, as she loved being in the sun! Gladys was a NASCAR fan and enjoyed watching the races. She was an avid and loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. Gladys would love taking trips to casinos to play the slot machines. She was a fun-loving and outgoing woman with a heart of gold. Gladys also had a mischievous side to her that enjoyed playing pranks and telling jokes. She will be missed dearly and never forgotten.

Gladys is survived by her nieces: Suzette Glisch of San Angelo,TX, Niki Glisch of Weston, WI and Janitta Lund of Oshkosh, WI, nephew: Lance (Allison) Glisch of Merrill and many great and great great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother: Edward Glisch and niece: Misty Glisch.

There will be no services held for Gladys.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

View Gladys Walker's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/22/2026

Thomas "Tom" W. Pagel

Thomas W. Pagel, 81, formerly of the town of Corning, passed away peacefully at his home in Mosinee on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He was born on March 29, 1944, and was the son to the late Leonard Pagel and Winifred (Berhow) Pagel. On February 21, 1968, he married Mardell Mootz at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Merrill. Tom and Mardell had just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. She survives.

Tom was a thoughtful and caring man. He had a love for old classic cars. He also had quite a witty sense of humor. Tom and Mardell enjoyed hosting many family reunions.

Tom started as a truck driver hauling mail for Madison Transit from 1965 to 1969. He was then an over the road truck driver until his retirement in 2002, he especially enjoyed hauling out to the east coast. Family members looked forward to their turn to ride along with him!

After retirement, he enjoyed working on old tractors and old cars in his garage with his friends. The garage was also a meeting place for family, friends and many of the neighbors, where they sat around, told stories and just shot the breeze. It was common to see 4 or 5 cars in the driveway at any given time. The garage refrigerator was always stocked with beer, pop and Heath candy bars.

He is survived by his wife: Mardell Pagel of Mosinee, brother: Gary Pagel of Wausau, brother-in-law: Virgil Voigt of Wausau and sister-in-law: Gay Mootz of Merrill. He is further survived by many extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Judith Voigt, 2 brothers-in-law: Roger Mootz and Ronald Mootz Sr, and 2 nephews: Terry Voigt and Kip Voigt.

Per Tom’s request, no services will be held.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

View Thomas "Tom" W. Pagel's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/20/2026

Ferne D. Isaacson

Ferne D. Isaacson, age 94, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Pine Crest Nursing Home. She was born on September 2, 1931, to the late Edward and Elsie (Hostmann) Riebe, in Merrill, WI. Ferne attended and graduated from Merrill High School. She met Jerome Isaacson, and the two were united in marriage on June 28, 1952 in Merrill. Sadly, he had preceded her in death.

Ferne “Tinkerbell” was a kind-hearted woman that was generous and loving. She was employed at Weinbrenner’s Shoe Factory, the dime store and was most recently a greeter at Walmart. Ferne enjoyed doing ceramics, baking for her family, friends and community and going out to eat at her favorite restaurant, Culver’s, with Jack and Sherry Kleinschmidt and outings with her sisters: Maggie and Joyce, and her friend: Mary Eye. Her faith and church activities were very important to her, including going to Bible studies, delivering church flyers and singing in the choir; she had a beautiful voice. Ferne was a member at Trinity Lutheran Church. She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Ferne is survived by her son: Michael Joe (Lynann) Isaacson of Merrill, daughter-in-law: Lynnette Isaacson, granddaughter: Johnille (David -deceased) Alft, great granddaughter: Mikayla (Dylan) Anderson, with their daughters: Avida & Alivia. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband: Jerome Isaacson, son: Edward Isaacson, sisters: Joyce Kleinschmidt and Maggie Alder, brothers: Bruce, Howard, Edward, Eugene and Donald Riebe.

The funeral service for Ferne will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill. Pastor Jon Chapa will officiate. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., also at the church. Burial at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery will immediately follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ferne’s name may be directed to the Lincoln County Humane Society.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Pine Crest Nursing Home for their care and support that was shown to Ferne and her family.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.

View Ferne D. Isaacson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/20/2026

Spring is here! With blooming flowers and brighter days, it’s the perfect time for new beginnings. Let’s embrace the season and all the beauty it brings!