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

Lorraine “Rainy” L. Alderton

Lorraine “Rainy” L. Alderton, age 86, of King, formerly of Wabeno and Laona area, passed away at the King Veterans Home on Monday, February 5, 2007. Lorraine was born in Soperton (Town of Wabeno) on July 23, 1920 to Leon and Myrtle (Grant) McEwen.

Lorraine married Joe Alderton in 1961 at Waukegan, Ill. Through life Joe and Rainy worked in the Milwaukee area until retirement and moved to Kewaunee and then to Laona. She was a member of the V.F.W. and the Ladies Auxiliary. Lorraine enjoyed knitting, traveling, and crocheting.

She is survived by son, Ralph (Chris) LaFountain, Wind Lake; stepchildren, Joanne Graves of Blackwell, Sandra Johan of Neosha, Hurley Alderton of Milwaukee, William Alderton of Crivitz; grandsons, Jason (Susan) LaFountain of Hales Corners, Grant (Debbie) LaFountain of Louisiana, Clint LaFountain of California; six great-grandchildren; sister, Jeanne Pitzland of Green Bay; brother, Robert (Karren) McEwen of Wabeno.

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

Graveside services will be announced in the Spring. Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon, assisted the family with the arrangements.

Leone Chrisby Bailey

Leone Chrisby Bailey, age 96, of Crandon, passed away at the AGI Health Care, Crandon on February 10, 2007, under the care of Dr. Kate Hospice. Leone was born in Crandon on December 3, 1910, the daughter of the late John Wesley and Mayme (Macauley) Agin.

On June 23, 1937 , in Waukegan, Illinois, Leone married Zach Taylor Bailey. He preceded her in death on March 13, 1978.

Leone was a member of the Range Line Sunshine Club, the VFW, the Ladies Axillary and was a youth leader for the 4-H Club. Her hobbies included sewing, cooking, canning, gardening and she was also an amateur photographer.

She is survived by her daughters, Dorothy Wurtinger of Antigo, Audrey Zold of Monico, Jeannie Childers and Archie Sparks of Crandon; her sons, Bill Bailey of Crandon and Michael (Carolyn) Bailey of Crandon; and her sisters, Grace King of Crandon and Edith Bradle of Crandon. She is also survived by 32 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great- grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Zach, she is also preceded in death by two sons, Donald and O. James Evans; a sister, Lydia Ford; and two sons-in-law, Rick Zold and William Wurtinger.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 17, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Praise Chapel Community Church in Crandon. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday with Pastor Don Dewing officiating. Interment will be at Crandon, Lakeside Cemetery.

Honoring Leone as pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon, assisted the family with arrangements.

Justice Jerome Biddell

Justice Jerome Biddell, age 46, of Stone Lake, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, February 8, 2007. Justice was born in Phelps, on August 3, 1960, the son of the late Ira John Biddell, Jr., and Lucille Johnson-Brown.

Justice is survived by his sisters Thelma Johnson of Crandon, Theresa Johnson of Crandon, Georgia (Larry) Rank of Florida, Sue Strugalla of Crandon, Patricia Brown of Milwaukee and his good friend Donny Cornell. He is further survived by many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Lucille; aunt, Dolly Phillips; uncle, D.C. Phillips; and niece, Malisa Johnson.

Visitation was held on Saturday, February 10, 2007 after 3:30 p.m. at the Lake Lucerne Gospel Chapel in Stone Lake. Funeral services were on Sunday, February 11 at noon with Pastor Don Dewing officiating. Interment was at the Potawatomi Tribal Cemetery in Stone Lake.

Donald Joseph “Joe” Zink

Donald Joseph “Joe” Zink, age 77, died January 26, 2007. He was born in Mishawaka, Ind., on March 22, 1929 to Helen Bernice Middendorf and Forrest Albert Zink.

He spent many summers growing up on his Grandfather Middendorf's farm in Argonne and working for his father's construction business in Crandon. He attended Crandon Grade School, Saint Norbert High School in De Pere and one year at Saint Norbert College.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and served aboard the U.S.S. Belletrix; LST 1068 and U.S.S. Essex CVA 9 during the Korean Conflict; U.S.S. Midway CVA 41, and the U.S.S. Algol during the Cuban Blockade. In 1958 he was promoted to Warrant Officer and in 1966 he spent the year in Vietnam. He retired as a CWO-3 Supply Officer in 1968 and settled in West De Pere. He loved and missed the Navy.

In retirement, Joe enjoyed spending time at the family cottages on Whitefish Lake, Oneida County. He and Mary also took many enjoyable trips across the country. He loved spending time with his grandchildren. Joe was a fan of old movies and Louis L'Amour books.

He married Mary Agnes Rynda on April 11 1953, and had six children; Forrest (Marsha) Zink, Mary Louise (Rick) Wahler, Dorothy (Jose) Ferrer, Joseph (Lynn) Zink, Lieutenant Colonel James (Danielle) Zink, and Katherine (George) Katsekes. He has nine grandchildren, Michael (Mandy), Ilia, and Charles Zink; Andrew, Lezlie and Anthony Zink; George III and Grace Katsekes; James W. Zink; stepgrandsons, Aaron Wahler and Jacob Sullivan, and one great-granddaughter, Marian Zink.

He is also survived by two sisters, Dolores (Joseph) Mazzarella, Mary Esther (Ben) Walcott, and three brothers-in-law, Ted (Alma) Rynda, Francis (Edna) Rynda, and Ray (Phyllis) Rynda and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family, De Pere, in St. Michael's Chapel from 3 to 7 p.m. January 30 with a prayer service to close the evening. Visitation continued after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the church with Fr. Tim Shillcox O'Praem officiating, having full military rites following. Entombment at the Allouez Catholic Mausoleum.

Memorials may be made to the memorial fund, which will be established in his honor. Ryan Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Rev. Walter N. Gehl

Rev. Walter N. Gehl, 87, a resident of the St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac died Monday, February 5, 2007 at the home. He was born in West Bend on May 19, 1919 the son of Henry M. and Carolyn Ziegler Gehl. Father began his studies for the priesthood at St. Francis Seminary in 1932. He was ordained on October 28, 1944 by the Most Rev. Moses E. Kiley, Archbishop of Milwaukee at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. Father began his priestly ministry on November 22, 1944 as an assistant at Christ King Parish in Wauwatosa. On April 25, 1945, he was appointed an assistant at St. Gerard Parish in Milwaukee. Father Gehl was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in Eden where he served until his retirement on June 30, 1988. Father retired to the Crandon area until returning to Fond du Lac a number of years ago.

Survivors include his brother Bernard Gehl of Helena, MT, his sister-in-law Margaret M. Gehl of Kewaskum, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers Clarence, Frederick, Henry J. and Henry's wife Pearl and William B. and William's wife Margaret T.

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, February 10 at 11 a.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church, W1562 County Rd. B, Eden. The Most Rev. Richard J. Sklba was the principal celebrant and burial was in Holy Angels Cemetery, West Bend. Visitation was Friday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the church and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of mass at the church. Memorials may be directed to Shepherd of the Hills School, Eden Twohig Funeral Home, Campbellsport, is serving the family. www.twohigfunerals.com.

Helen P. Kniess

Helen P. Kniess, age 76, of Crandon, passed away Friday, January 26, 2007 at the AGI Health Care Center, Crandon. Helen was born August 14, 1930 in Laona, the daughter of the late Charles J. and Marie V. (Miron) Hupf.

Helen married Ray Kniess on November 13, 1948 in Racine. He preceded her in death on April 19, 1996.

She is survived by daughter, Susan M. (James) Albrecht of Racine; son, Thomas M. (Jewell) Kniess of Mosinee; sisters, Doreen (Vernon) Sheldon of Crandon and Carole (Grant) Sheldon of Armstrong Creek; brother, Jerry Hupf of Newald; special aunt, Connie Bradle of Laona; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Ray and her parents, she is also preceded in death by a brother, Thomas and a sister, Sharon Bauer.

Visitation was held on Monday, January 29 from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the Weber-Hill Funeral Home, Crandon (715) 478-2322. Funeral mass followed at 12 noon Monday, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Crandon.

Roscoe Lee Churchill

Roscoe Lee Churchill, age 90, died Friday, February 9, 2007. A loving father, devoted husband and inspired educator, Roscoe retained a clear mind and strong commitment to preserving and protecting the earth until age 90.

Roscoe was born on June 28, 1916 to George and Arminda Churchill, the tenth of 11 children. He grew up on the farm, and learned early to work hard and to love nature. He thrived on splitting wood, riding and driving horses, and eating berry pies. His proudest moment was when, as a young man, he was able to purchase a Model A Ford for his parents with money he earned cutting and selling wood. He completed County Norman (teachers' training) in 1937 at the age of 21. In the same year he got his first teaching position and married Evelyn Dorothy Haase, the love of his life. He and Evelyn were happily married for nearly 59 years. Roscoe was a member and elder of the First Church of Christ in Ladysmith, and also, later in life, a member of the Congregational Church in Conrath. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Roscoe's most profound moment of fulfillment was when he was able to buy back the family farm south of Ladysmith, which was pioneered by his parents in 1900 and lost in the Depression. With his family he enjoyed operating the farm while pursuing his career as an educator. He raised beef and dairy cattle, took great pleasure in working with his horses, often driving his favorite mare, April, in local parades. Roscoe enjoyed listening to and singing music from the Big Band era, liked to play the harmonica and took pleasure in playing the ukulele to waken his kids before chores in the morning. Other favorite activities included making maple syrup and playing cribbage with his friend Bob Bricco, writing poetry and refining his skill at darning socks.

During his teaching career, which spanned over 30 years, Roscoe continued his education and was the first in his family to obtain a master's degree. He took great pride and pleasure in nurturing an appreciation of nature in his students. Through the “Trees for Tomorrow” program, he introduced many youngsters to a wonder of Wisconsin's forests and woodlands and to the importance of caring for our natural world.

In partnership with Evelyn, Roscoe worked tirelessly to protect Wisconsin's environment. They drafted and promoted important legislation to protect Wisconsin's waters, including the Flambeau River, from the impacts of mining. Further, Roscoe and Evelyn provided guidance, support, and inspiration to countless others across the state and nation who shared their desire to preserve the environment. Roscoe and Evelyn received numerous awards and recognition for their dedicated service and environmental leadership.

Roscoe loved spending time outdoors, planting crops, caring for his animals, and occasionally hunting for deer. At age 86 he bagged a prize buck, which he mounted on his living room wall. Thirty-five years ago Roscoe and his family planted thousands of pine, spruce and balsam trees on the “back forty” of the farm. Today those trees stand tall, providing habitat to deer, bear, owls and other wildlife - a living legacy to a man who lived his life according to his ideals. Roscoe will be long remembered - a leader, visionary and inspiration to all.

Roscoe is survived by his brother Edwin of Milwaukee; his five children, Arlene Sellereite of Seattle, Edwin of Augusta, Maine, George of Conrath, Susan of Madison, and Hazel Ann Jerry of Ladysmith; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his virtual son Kwabena Amoh of Minneapolis; his special friends, Laura and Greg Furtmen of Webster. Roscoe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Evelyn and his grandson, Zachary.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 16, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, 701 Menasha Avenue, Ladysmith, with Pastor Donn Schroeder and Pastor Ramon Hunt officiating. Visitation will be at the Nash-Jackan Funeral Home in Ladysmith, Thursday, February 15, 2007 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., and a 10 a.m. visitation on Friday prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sheldon. In addition, a “Fond Farewell” memorial will be held at the Stefan Pavilion at the Grant Town Shops (south of Ladysmith on Hwy. 27), beginning at 2 p.m. (following the burial). There will be songs in celebration of life, sharing of memories, dedications by Native American Tribal Member and a special Eagle Feather Ceremony.

Memorials may be made to Northwest Wisconsin Homecare (Hospice) or The Roscoe and Evelyn Churchill Memorial Environmental Scholarship Fund.

Nash-Jackan Funeral Home of Ladysmith assisted the family with arrangements.

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