Eizabeth 'Betty' Oerichbauer Rhodes
Elizabeth “Betty” Oerichbauer Rhodes, an Eagle River native, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at University Hospital in Georgia. She was 87.
Mrs. Rhodes was born Nov. 7, 1916, and attended Illinois Masonic School of Nursing from 1940-'42, where she received her registered nursing degree.
During World War II, she served overseas in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She ended her tour of duty in 1949 as captain at Oliver General Hospital in Augusta, Ga. She met and married deSaussure Clarkson “Buddy” Rhodes in 1949.
Mrs. Rhodes was employeed at Talmadge Hospital in Georgia for 20 years, where she was instrumental in the pioneering of various clinics, including open-heart surgery, radiology, dialysis and oral survery.
After retiring from Talmadge, she spent her time helping out at their family-owned Rhodes School and Office Supply store in Augusta. She lived in that area for 55 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Conrad and Romana Oerichbauer; her husband, D.C. Rhodes; a son, Conrad R. Rhodes; a brother, Curt Oerichbauer of Eagle River; and nephew, James Oerichbauer, also of Eagle River.
Survivors include a brother, William Oerichbauer of Eagle River; two daughters, Salle (Skip) Gartman of Wrens, Ga., and Kay (Fred) Rhodes Walden of Augusta; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held in the Chapel of Rowland Funeral Home in Augusta. Interment
was at Pineview Memorial Park in Augusta with full military honors.
Memorial may be made in her memory to the American Red Cross, 1322 Ellis Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
Keith Roth
Keith Roth of Donalsonville, Ga., formerly of Eagle River, died Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, at Donalsonville Hospital. He was 45.
Mr. Roth was born July 15, 1959, in Eau Claire. He lived in Eagle River during his youth and graduated from Northland Pines High School. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Survivors include his wife, Sheila Smith Roth; his parents, Lamont and Marian Roth of Eagle River; one son, Dennis (Tia) Whisenant of Valdosta, Ga.; two daughters, Anna Whisenant and Amber Pickett of Donalsonville; two brothers, Mike and Gary, both of Eagle River; one sister, Karen (Kim) Bonander of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and one grandchild.
He is further survived by several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service with military honors was held Sept. 19 at Friendship Memorial Gardens in Donalsonville, Ga. The Rev. Jimmy Dean officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Lighthouse, 413 3rd Ave., Albany, GA 31701.
Eunice D. Bellaire
Eunice D. Bellaire of Three Lakes died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at Seasons of Life Hospice in Woodruff. She was 75.
She was born Sept. 20, 1929, in Goodthunder, Minn., the daughter of Frank and Nora (nee Dane) Krueger.
She married Lloyd Bellaire in 1949 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Her hobbies included flower gardening and attending craft fairs.
Mrs. Bellaire was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Carlyle and Wallace.
In addition to her husband, survivors include three sons, Michael (Jolyn) of Cordova, Tenn., Lloyd (Amy) of Kenosha and Jamison (Michelle) of Racine; one daughter, Deborah (Ralph) Luker of Racine; seven grandchildren; three sisters, Audrey, Eleanore and Carol; and one brother, Elden.
She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held at Holy Communion Luthern Church in Racine Sept. 28. The Rev. Walter Hermanns officiated.
Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Ronald Montezon
Ronald Montezon of Rhinelander died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander. He was 52.
Mr. Montezon was born March 25, 1952, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Richard and Elizabeth (nee Coty) Montezon.
He moved to Eagle River in 1968 and graduated from Eagle River High School in 1970. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, graduating in 1972.
He married Joan Hefter May 5, 1973.
Mr. Montezon was employed at Channel 12 in Rhinelander for nine years. He then was employed at WAOW-Wausau, WQOW-Eau Claire and KIKN in Lincoln, Neb. He returned to WFJW Channel 12 in 1998 as vice president and general manager, positions he held until his death.
He was a member of Grace Foursquare Church.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years; one son, Jeremiah “Juice” (Ginger) of Minneapolis, Minn.; two daughters, Sarah of Madison and Moriyah of Rhinelander; his parents, Richard and Elizabeth Montezon of Eagle River; four brothers, Rick (Joann), Rod (Donna) and Ray (Kathy), all of Eagle River, and Robert (Jan) of Land O' Lakes.
He is further survived by other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held Sept. 28 at Grace Foursquare Church in Rhinelander. The Revs. Robert Messerli and Gary Dixon officiated.
Interment
was in Eagle River Cemetery.
A memorial will be established in his name.
Frances H. Shields
Frances H. Shields of Eagle River died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004, at her home. She was 83.
Mrs. Shields was born June 17, 1921, in Dayton, Ohio.
She was a resident of Elgin, Ill., from 1949 to 2001, when she moved to Eagle River.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Robert F. Shields; a grandson, Matthew Shields; one brother, Gary Hedges; and three sisters, Jane Merrill, Kay Erickson and Ann McCoy.
Survivors include two sons, Patrick (Cheri) of Eagle River and Michael (Bonnie) of Delhi, N.Y.; one brother, Henry Needham of Louisiana; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She is further survived by other family and friends.
A private memorial service was held at Alpha Crematory in Eagle River.
Memorials may be made to the Vilas County Animal Shelter.
Arlene Florence Wielgus
Arlene Florence Wielgus of Three Lakes died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004, at Taylor Park Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Rhinelander. She was 69.
Mrs. Wielgus was born Jan. 9, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Robert and Florence (nee Carlson) Splitt.
She was raised and attended schools in Chicago, Ill., and was then employed by Premier Electric Co. as a secretary in the accounting department.
She moved to Three Lakes in 2003 and was employed at PJ's Bakery.
Her hobbies included bird feeding and activities at the Reiter Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Bob Splitt.
Survivors include two brothers, Bill (Sandy) Splitt of Three Lakes and Jim (Irene) Splitt of Chicago, Ill.
She is further survived by nieces and nephews.
A memorial services will be held at a later date.
Barbara Evans
Barbara Evans of St. Germain died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander. She was 63.
Mrs. Evans was born Dec. 18, 1940, in Milwaukee.
She worked for the Wacker Corporation for 36 years. She moved to St. Germain four years ago, but prior to that she had been a longtime summer resident of St. Germain.
Her hobbies included fishing, swimming and spending time outdoors with her two dogs.
Survivors include her mother, Lucille Morris of St. Germain; two sons, Stephen Evans of St. Germain and David Evans of Eagle River; a sister, Jean (Jerry) Leistikow of Eagle River; and four step-brothers, Bill Morris of Leesburg, Fla., Charles (Patti) Morris of Batavia, Ronnie (Bev) Morris of Heins City, Fla., and Richard (Joann) Morris of Milwaukee.
She is further survived by two nieces, other family and friends.
A funeral service was held Oct. 5 at Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home in Eagle River with the Rev. William Trosien officiating.
Inurnment was in Alpha Crematory in Eagle River.
William J. Freund
William J. Freund of Ocala, Fla., a former resident of St. Germain, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Marion Woods Retirement Center in Florida. He was 82.
A native of St. Germain for many years, he lived in Marietta, Ga., before moving to Ocala, Fla., in 1981.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was a employed as an aerospace engineer.
He was a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 33rd Degree Mason, Marion Dunn Lodge No. 19, Ocala Scottish Rite, Ocala York Rite Bodies, Order of the Eastern Star, National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a life member of Disabled American Veterans Post 149.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Joanne; a son, Harold of DeForest; two daughters, Elisabeth Arendburg of Atlanta, Fla., and Barbara Waters of Marietta, Ga.; four brothers, Robert of Silver Spring, Md., Louis of Charlotte, N.C., Richard of Rhinelander and Howard of Minocqua; three sisters, Margaret Dean, Anna Marie and Viola Dean of Bradenton, Fla.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Fredrick Larry Gehr
Fredrick Larry Gehr of Land O' Lakes died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. He was 75.
Mr. Gehr was born Sept. 25, 1929, in the Green Bay area and spent much of his childhood in Shawano. He graduated from Riverside High School in Milwaukee and then served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
He married Joen Praefke in Mequon. He owned and operated Gehr Photography Studio in Shawano and moved to Land O' Lakes in 1985 after retiring.
His hobbies included trout fishing and trap shooting at the Gateway Gun Club in Land O' Lakes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ruth (nee Andrews) Gehr.
Survivors include one son, Rick of Kiel; one brother, James (Mary) of Cedarburg; and two grandchildren.
A private family funeral service was held.
Mark E. Leatzow
Mark E. Leatzow of Marion, Mont., died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004, at his home of a heart attack. He was 54.
Mr. Leatzow was born Aug. 1, 1950, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Victor and Nancy (nee Ernest) Leatzow. He married his wife, Willie, in Chicago, Ill.
He was employed as an elementary school principal and had been chairman of the Marion Volunteer Fire Department Trustees.
He was an annual vacationer in Three Lakes and considered it his second home when he came back to visit family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Brett Balmer and Paige Bartley of Oak Park, Ill., and Ashley Leatzow of Marion, Mont.; one son, Cody of Marion, Mont.; one sister, Vicki Rowland of St. George, Utah; two brothers, Jim of Three Lakes and Cap of Kalispell, Mont.; and one granddaughter.
A private funeral service was held Sept. 25 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell, Mont.
Memorials may be made to the Marion Volunteer Fire Department.
Robert L. Nicholson
Robert L. Nicholson of Hillsdale, a summer resident of the Land O' Lakes area, died Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. He was 75.
Mr. Nicholson was born May 20, 1929, in Hillsdale, Ill., the son of Lloyd and Minnie (nee Fillmer) Nicholson.
He married June Reese Sept. 11, 1949, in Hillsdale.
He was employed at the former International Harvester in East Moline for five years and at Strombeck Manufacturing in Moline for 25 years before starting his own business, NikWood Products Inc., in Hillsdale in 1979.
Mr. Nicholson was a member of Hillsdale United Methodist Church where he served as a trustee. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years, a charter member of the Hillsdale Fire Department, a member of the Riverdale School Board and a Hillsdale Village Trustee.
His hobbies included duck hunting, walleye fishing in Canada and spending time at his Land O' Lakes home. He was a fan of professional sports teams in Chicago, Ill.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters Janis (Scott) Turner of Elgin, Ill., and Lisa Nicholson (Al Talley) of Hillsdale, Ill; a son Daniel (Jane Littrel) Nicholson of Hillsdale, Ill.; a sister, Sally Nicholson of Port Byron; a brother William (Pat) Nicholson of Cordova, Ill.; and four grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 11 a.m. at Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Gibson Funeral Home in Port Byron, Ill.
Burial will be in Mt. Maria Cemetery in Hillsdale, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the Hillsdale United Methodist Church and the Land O' Lakes Bible Church in Land O' Lakes.
Carl Walter Schmeling
Carl Walter Schmeling of Eagle River died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at Saint Mary's Hospital In Rhinelander. He was 70.
Mr. Schmeling was born Dec. 31, 1933, in Milwaukee to Walter and Linda Schmeling. He married Nancy Jo Karolczak.
He owned and operated the Sportsman Edge in Eagle River for many years. His hobbies included hunting, fishing and being in the North Woods.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years; one daughter, Barbara (David) Zawistowski; two sons, Steven Behling and Carl Michael (Colleen); one brother, Roy; one sister, Lori; and five grandchildren.
A private funeral service was held.
George Vanderheyden
George Vanderheyden of Watersmeet, Mich., died Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. He was 85.
Mr. Vanderheyden was born Jan. 10, 1919, in Chicago, Ill. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. during World War II. A former resident of Chicago, Ill., he moved to Watersmeet, Mich., in 1989. He was a member and past president of Headwaters Seniors of Land O' Lakes.
He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne, in October, 2003.
Survivors include one son, Eric (Kelly) of Trenton, Fla.; one daughter, Rosemary Rossdeutscher of Palatine, Ill.; two step-sons, Larry (Jackie) Morris of Chicago, Ill., and Terry (Candy) Morris of Belvidere, Ill.; two sisters, Ellie (Chuck) Emmrich-Hosey of Watersmeet and Gloria Rubenson of Wood Dale, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Dolores Vlecek of Land O' Lakes; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Oct. 2 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watersmeet, Mich., with the Rev. Aloysius Hasenberg and the Rev. Thomas Ettolil officiating.
Inurnment was in Alpha Crematory in Eagle River.
