Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services

02/25/2026

Curt William Kuenzi

Curt William Kuenzi, 69, of Siren, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Service information and a full obituary will be forthcoming.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

View Curt William Kuenzi's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/24/2026

When families walk through our doors, they aren’t just choosing a monument — they’re creating a lasting tribute.

As the Monument Consultant for Wisconsin & Minnesota Memorials and Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Homes, I work one-on-one with families to design meaningful, personalized memorials that truly reflect the life lived.

Whether you are:
• Planning ahead
• Honoring a loved one
• In need of a veteran marker
• Looking to add lettering or final date engraving

I am here to guide you every step of the way.

Pre-planning a monument can ease stress for your family and lock in today’s pricing.

Message me directly or call our office to schedule a private consultation.

Proudly serving Webster, Siren, Grantsburg and surrounding communities.

02/23/2026

William Joseph Arends

William "Bill" Arends, age 82, of Danbury, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2026, at Frederic Nursing & Rehab Center, surrounded by loved ones.

Bill was born on October 22, 1943, to Nick and Elizabeth Arends and was raised on the family farm near Borup. Growing up as one of ten children, Bill learned early the values of hard work, loyalty, and the importance of family-values that shaped the man he would become. The farm was filled with chores, spirited sibling adventures, and plenty of laughter, laying the foundation for a life rooted in love and resilience.

After graduating from high school, Bill proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving his country from 1962 to 1965. His time in the Marines instilled in him a deep sense of discipline and patriotism that remained with him throughout his life.

Following his military service, Bill moved to Fargo, where fate introduced him to the love of his life, Ellyn "Sue" Ellingson. They were married on June 8th, 1968 in Ada and soon made their home in St. Paul. Together they built a life grounded in love, laughter, and devotion, welcoming three children-Nikki, Lisa, and Bill-who were the pride and joy of their lives.

Bill dedicated more than 30 years of service to UPS, where his strong work ethic and friendly nature earned him the respect of colleagues and the gift of many lifelong friendships. He was known for his reliability, his easy smile, and dry humor.

Bill and Sue cherished time with their family at their cabin in Danbury. What began as a weekend retreat eventually became their dream retirement destination in 2000. Danbury was truly Bill's happy place. There, he found not only peace in the Northwoods but also a close-knit community of friends who became like family. Weekends were often spent rotating between homes for dinners, card games, and spirited rounds of pool. Sundays meant gathering to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings-or, on occasion and with good-natured reluctance, watching the Green Bay Packers.

Bill had a love for simple pleasures. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing with friends, competing in bowling and pool leagues, and faithfully watching Minnesota Twins games.

Family was always at the center of Bill's world. Despite busy lives and miles between them, he remained close to his many siblings, sharing stories, laughter, and unwavering love whenever they gathered. After the heartbreaking loss of Sue in 2004, Bill found renewed joy and purpose in becoming a grandfather. His three grandchildren-Elly, Logan, and Brady-brought light back into his life. He treasured every event, celebration, and simple moment spent with them, and he was never shy about expressing how proud he was of each of them.

Bill is survived by his children, Nicole Arends; Lisa (Mike) Wolf; and Bill Arends; his beloved grandchildren, Elly Johnson, Logan Arends, and Brady Arends; his siblings, Catherine Olson; Betty (Bob) Halverson; John Arends; Dick (Gail) Arends; Francis (Darlena) Arends; and Mary (David) Mehl; brother in law Jerry Swenson, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sue Arends; sisters Dorothy Swensen, Margaret Campbell, and Marie Arends; and his longtime partner, JoAnn Eliason.

A burial service with military honors will be held at Danbury Cemetery on Tuesday, April 7, at 1pm, where Bill will be laid to rest beside his beloved Sue. Reception to follow at Zia's in Webster, WI.

Bill will be remembered for his steady presence, his deep devotion to family, his quick wit, and signature chuckle. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful people at St Croix Hospice and Frederic Nursing and Rehab for the care and support provided.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

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02/20/2026

Polly Ann Siers

Polly Ann Siers, age 64, of Danbury, WI, formerly of St. Paul, MN, passed away at home on February 18, 2026. She is survived by her daughter, Stacy Shannon, and her significant other, Tom Harris. Polly will be greatly missed by family, friends, and all who knew her.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

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02/17/2026

UPDATE>>> We are happy to share that our phone lines are now up and functioning properly.

We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during the temporary disruption. As always, we are here to serve you and your family.

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our main phone lines. Unfortunately, our service technician will not be available to restore service until February 19, 2026.

In the meantime, we remain fully available to serve you.

If you need immediate assistance, please contact us by:

📱 Calling or texting: (513)673-7805 for our Director Sean Gillen
📧 Email: contact@swedberg-taylor.com, and the staff will reach out as soon as possible.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. Please know that we are here for you 24/7 and committed to assisting your family during this time.

— The Team at Swedberg Taylor Funeral Home

02/10/2026

Robert William Schneider

Robert Schneider Jr., age 73, of Siren, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones, on February 6, 2026.

Robert was born on January 19, 1953, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Robert and Jane (Schuler) Schneider. He was raised in Juneau, Alaska, where he graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School. Following high school, Robert proudly served his country and was deployed to Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star for his courageous and honorable service.

Alaska remained home to Robert for more than 60 years. He dedicated his professional life to public service, retiring from the Alaska State Government.

This year, Robert and his wife, Melody, were celebrating 16 years of marriage — a partnership marked by love, devotion, and shared adventures.

Beyond his career and military service, Robert was an accomplished musician who found joy in creating and sharing music. He also had a deep passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and loved traveling, always embracing the freedom of the open road and the experiences it brought.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Melody; his daughter, Sara (Tom) Brenner; and his nephew, Keith Schneider Jr.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jane Schneider, and his brother, Keith Schneider.

Robert will be laid to rest at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska, where he will receive military honors.

View Robert William Schneider's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/08/2026

Selena "Gidget" Joyce Reynolds

Selena "Gidget" Joyce Reynolds, age 60, of Webster, Wisconsin, began her journey to the Spirit World on February 7, 2026, at her home, surrounded by love.

Selena was born on July 31, 1965, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Francis Eugene Reynolds and Rose Ann Churchill, both of whom preceded her in death. She was a proud member of the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe, and was known by her Native American name, Waasikwe, "Shining Woman."

Selena had a creative and joyful spirit. She was an avid beader, finding peace and expression through her work. She enjoyed bingo, trips to the casino, and most of all, spending time with her grandchildren, who brought her endless happiness and pride.

She is lovingly survived by her children: Tasha (Budda) Mansfield, Raymond Reynolds, Shaleah Reynolds, and MaKayla Reynolds.

She was preceded in death by her son, Nathanial Reynolds.

She is also survived by her significant other, Jim Mustache; her siblings, Robert Reynolds and Deb Reynolds; and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends who will forever carry her memory.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Francis Reynolds.

Pallbearers will be: Mark Stoner, Gary Stoner, Buck Zehner, William Reynolds, David St. John, and Myron Mansfield.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Jaiden Reynolds, Dominick Breeden, Kodyak Collins, Jaiden Mansfield, Envy Reynolds, Crystal Breeden, Ailahchante' Reynolds, Kadynce Reynolds, Nevaeh Reynolds, Milea Reynolds, Brent Reynolds, Sean Reynolds, and Derek Churchill.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Zhashagiins Event Center in Siren, Wisconsin. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., also at Zhashagiins Event Center. Burial will follow the service at Big Sand Lake Cemetery in Hertel, Wisconsin.

Selena "Gidget" Joyce Reynolds will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever honored in the hearts of her family and community.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

View Selena "Gidget" Joyce Reynolds's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/06/2026

Paul Quintin Johnson

Paul Q. Johnson, age 66, of Grantsburg, WI, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Paul was born on October 24, 1959, to parents Verlyn and Mary Alma (White) Johnson in Chicago, IL. He was the youngest of five children. The family moved to Grantsburg shortly after Paul was born.

After graduating from Grantsburg High School in 1978, Paul went on to honorably serve his country for five years in the United States Army. As a Specialist and Military Policeman, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for his dedicated services.

Paul returned to Grantsburg and married the love of his life, Mary Jane Nelson, in 1985. Together, they raised three sons, Daniel, James, and Kyle.

Paul was a man of many passions, most notably bow hunting, golfing, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. But his greatest joy in recent years was being Grampa to their two cherished grandsons, Kroy and Everett.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Verlyn and Mary Alma, and his brother Patrick.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Jane, sons, Daniel (Annie), James (Amber), and Kyle (Jenna), grandsons, Kroy Johnson and Everett Johnson, sisters, Patsy Wenthe, Penny (Bill) Wolf, Pam (Steve) Geiger, sister-in-law, Mary Sue Johnson, and many nieces and nephews.

Paul will be laid to rest in Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, WI, at a later date.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg.

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02/06/2026

Michael Harold Anderson

Michael H. Anderson, age 74, resident of Grantsburg, WI, passed away on January 29, 2026.

He is survived by his sisters, Gayle Lunsmann, Marie Capelle and Cindy Anderson; his nieces, nephews and many loved ones.

Michael was born on June 21, 1951, to parents Harold and Betty (Rasmussen) Anderson.

He spent his childhood in Silver Bay, MN. He graduated in June of 1969 and entered the service Oct. 1970. He was stationed in

Germany for 2 and 1/2 years, as a cook. He was Honorably Discharged in October of 1973.

Mike farmed for a short while, then entered the labor force. He retired early from Parker in Grantsburg and remained there.

Mike was an avid reader of anything history with a focus on World War II. He loved old tv shows and movies, gardening, and baking or cooking. Mike loved cats, and his Sophi will miss him.

A memorial gathering for Mike will be held on April 10, 2026, at 10 A.M. with Military Honors at 12 P.M. at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg, WI. His burial will take place after the service at 2 P.M. at Northwestern Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.

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02/06/2026

LaVerne Ronald Schauer

LaVerne (Swede) Schauer, 87, of Siren, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2026, with his loved ones by his side.

He was born October 31, 1938. A lifelong resident of Siren, Swede was known for his sharp wit, independent spirit, and stubborn strength. He was proud of his Wisconsin roots and had a deep appreciation of the outdoors. Swede spent much of his time hunting, trapping, fishing, tending to his vegetable garden, canning, and chatting with his friends at Happy Hour.

He spent most of his working life with the Burnett County Highway Department.

Swede was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Doris; brother, Wayne; infant son, Ronald; and daughter-in-law Cindy.

He is survived by his children, Shauna (Scott) Martin, Carey Schauer, Christopher (Gail) Schauer; his siblings, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of LaVerne’s life will be held at a later date.

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02/03/2026

John Theodore Elmgren

John Theodore Elmgren, age 71, was born on July 4, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, and passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, at his home in Webster, Wisconsin, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply.

On July 4, 1995, John married the love of his life, Jodi K. Livingston a match made in heaven. He met her on his annual fishing trip. She was "The one that didn't get away". Together, they built a life filled with laughter, loyalty, and strong family roots.

John was a devoted father and grandfather. He is survived by his sons, John T. Elmgren Jr. (JT) and wife Tiffani, and grandchildren Loretta June Elmgren (8) and Charlotte Rae Elmgren (6); and Matthew L. Elmgren, with grandchildren Lane Livingston Elmgren (2) and Nora Lynn Foede (7). His pride in his family was unmistakable and unwavering.

Over the years, John worked as a sales representative and bar manager, roles that fit his natural ability to connect with people. He lived in California, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, but once he moved to Webster, Wisconsin, he famously "burned his boxes after moving to Webster," knowing he was finally home.

John embraced life with enthusiasm and intention. He loved stereo equipment and loud music, sitting on the porch enjoying the changing seasons, camping, fireworks, music concerts, and his annual fishing trip with the Waupaca Group. Retirement suited him well; he perfected what he called "the art of leisure." He was also known for his appreciation of fi****ms, his quick wit, and his habit of reading instruction manuals.

Above all, John was genuinely compassionate, hardworking, and deeply faithful. He always provided for his family and lived his values daily. Many will fondly remember his favorite phrase, often spoken with sincerity: "Have I said thank you lately?"

John was preceded in death by his parents, G. Theodore Elmgren Jr. and Margaret Helen (Robinson) Elmgren; his brother Mark Elmgren; and his grandson John T. Elmgren III (Teddy).

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at the family farm, where loved ones will gather to remember John exactly as he would have wanted, surrounded by family, stories, laughter, and gratitude.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

View John Theodore Elmgren's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

02/03/2026

Charles Allen Barr

Charles Allen Barr, age 88, passed away on January 29, 2026, in Danbury, Wisconsin. He was born on May 20, 1937, in Hudson, Wisconsin, to Ernest and Gladys Barr.

Charles graduated from Hudson High School in 1955 and on August 18, 1956, he married the love of his life, high school sweetheart, Audrey H. Barr. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and community.

Throughout his life, Charles called many places home. He was born and raised in Hudson, Wisconsin, later moving to Whitefish, Montana in 1966, then to Arvada, Colorado in 1980. He returned to Hudson in 1984 and ultimately settled in Danbury, Wisconsin in 1996, where he enjoyed retirement.

Charles dedicated over 40 years of service working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. Outside of work, he embraced life with enthusiasm and joy. He loved camping, fishing, hunting, coaching baseball, dancing, bowling, and spending time playing cards and dice with friends and family. He also greatly enjoyed the time he and Audrey were able to spend with friends doing many activities such as golf league, bowling league, fire hose laying contests, cross country skiing, and the dune buggy club (AARP Angels). Together, he and Audrey built a life they truly loved! A proud Wisconsin sports fan, Charles faithfully cheered for the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Wisconsin Badgers. He also cherished his time spent raising his children in Montana, where he was a very successful youth baseball coach, fell in love with the mountains, and was recognized for his community involvement by being named the King of the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

Family was the heart of Charles’ life. He is survived by his children: Andy (Terri) Barr, Denise (Brett) Vieke, Char (David Steiner) Corcoran, Tom (Amy) Barr, Chip (Dana) Barr, and Candy (Tom) Peterson; his grandchildren: Cole, Stevie, Jason, Miranda, Mitch, Logan, Brady, Austen, Jaden, Ashley, and Erin; and his great-grandchildren: Allie, Brooks, Walker, Evyn, Alden, Bryn, Ryann, Palmer, Baker, Avery, Owen, Lucy, Barrit, Riley, and Carter. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Gladys Barr; his beloved wife, Audrey Barr; his brother, Bernie (Corinne) Barr; and his sisters, Anna Marie (Jerry) Bridges and Peg (Don) Tolzman.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Webster, Wisconsin, with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. A luncheon will follow.

The Rite of Committal with inurnment will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Charles will be remembered for his strong Catholic faith, devotion to family, his strong work ethic, his love of sports, and the joy he brought to those around him.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at swedberg-taylor.com.

View Charles Allen Barr's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.