A memorial service is being planned at Ascension Lutheran Church in Minocqua. Details will follow.

Donald E. Raabe, 92. of Minocqua, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at the Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua. Born on January 15, 1920 in Milwaukee to Walter and Elsie Raabe. Married Ruth J. Wetzel on August 2, 1941 in Milwaukee. Don's love of baseball led into a stint in the minor leagues followed by a long career in the Shorewood Fire Department in Milwaukee. He and Ruthie learned how to snow-ski in their late 40's and Don...

Arlene E. Johnson of Wausau, Wisconsin passed away Saturday morning January 28 th , 2012 at the age of 78.   She was born in Menominee, Wisconsin on March 26, 1933 and was the only child of Helmer and Leona Ruud.   She was raised on the family farm located in the Little Elk Creek area and graduated from Menominee High School.   Arlene earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and...

George Baumgartner, 78, of Lake Tomahawk, WI died peacefully on January 21, 2012 at the Seasons of Life Hospice Home in Woodruff, WI, following a brief battle with cancer. He was born May 21, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois to George and Magdalene Baumgartner, the youngest of six children. George was drafted into the army during the Korean War in 1953 and spent most of his two years in service in Alaska. He was discharged in May 1955 and on July...

Joseph Anthony Nosek of Boulder Junction, Wisconsin peacefully but unexpectedly passed away on January 21, 2012 at 3:19 a.m. Visitation will be held January 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Boulder Junction followed by a memorial mass at 11:00 a.m. Joe was born May 6, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois. Joe loved deeply his wife of 67 years Ann (Wilkins) Nosek and was proud of his children Judith (James) Brandt, Joseph Anthony who...

Rita M. Hausner-Bennett was called home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 21, 2012 at the age of 79. She was born August 17, 1932, in Chicago, IL to Clarence & Alberta (Byden) Rabe. Rita is survived by her two sons, Steve (Christine aka Buns) Hausner and Tom (Deann) Hausner; sisters, Jean (Jerry) Brittain and Dorothy Anderson; grandchildren, Matthew, Adam, Ryan, Amanda, Ferenc, Brandon; great-grandchildren, Clark, Oliver, & George;...

Daniel R. Smith, age 83, of Hazelhurst and formerly of Tomahawk, passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff. He was born on July 29, 1928 in Wausau, WI, the son of Martin and Elizabeth (nee Bushmaker) Smith. Dan attended St. Mary's School in Tomahawk, Tomahawk High School and NCO School at the Army Military Academy. He married Beverly J. Wesenberg on April 1, 1975. Dan enlisted in the WI National Guard...

Barbara Ann (Reed) Plowman, 74, died peacefully at her home January 20, 2012. When Barbara was a freshman in high school she did a paper about her life. Here is an excerpt from that paper: "On a cold wintery day, February 3, 1937, in Wautoma, Wisconsin a baby girl was born. She had brown hair, what there was of it, and brown eyes. She was quite a small baby, she only weighed five pounds. Her parents named her Barbara Ann. When I was...

Deborah Marie Rothing-Hillestad (58) of Woodruff, WI went to a pain free place on Thursday, January 19, 2012 surrounded by her loved ones and devoted Seasons of Life Hospice staff. She was born February 8, 1953 in Ashland, WI to Elman and Bettie Parent. Her father Elman preceded her in death in 1980. Deb had a long career bartending at many establishments in Stevens Point and the Northwoods. She prided herself on being the "best dressed...

Dianne Marie (Pribis) Howard, 49, of Prairie Farm, formerly of Hazelhurst, peacefully passed away at UW-Madison Hospital with family at her side Jan. 17, 2012. She was born June 11, 1962, in Batavia, Ill., and was the daughter of Stephen and Rosalie (Schassberger) Pribis. She raised three sons, Steven Lee of Chetek, married to Lacey with two boys, Evan and Ayden; Ashton living in St. Paul, Minn., pursuing a career in photography; and Christian,...