Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Homes

James George Miller, formerly of Rio, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2024. He was born on September 14, 1933, to George and Alice (Dvorak) Miller of Antigo, WI. Jim grew up on a dairy and potato farm north of Antigo, home of the Wisconsin state soil, Antigo silt loam. He graduated from UW-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course and returned to the family farm in Langlade County. He met and married the county Home Economist Mary Ann Kennedy, and they started their own dairy and egg farm near Antigo. Jim loved being the town Santa, in Antigo, providing great memories and joy for area children. Moving to Watertown, and later Rio, Jim and Mary Ann raised Polled Herefords. After leaving...

Mary Ellen Mayer-Johnson was born on July 23, 1932, to John Hild and Helen Gordon Hild in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Her mother died due to complications of birth. Following her mother's death, Mary Ellen was placed with her father's sister, Reena Jones, where she remained for her first two and one-half years. She was then placed with William and Doris Caldow, her mother's cousin, in Lodi, WI. William and Doris later became her adoptive parents. It was in Lodi that she completed her elementary and high school education (Class of 1950). She graduated with a bachelor's degree in early childhood development and education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1955. Following...

Marcella L. Kliner, age 98, of Portage, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2024. In union once again with her beloved husband, Paul. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, Wisconsin, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM, with Fr. Randy Timmerman presiding. Inurnment will be at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Marshfield, Wisconsin, on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 1:30 PM. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage (www.pmmfh.com) is assisting the family.

Andrea Lee Gavinski, age 80, of Poynette, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Columbia Healthcare Center in Wyocena. Andrea was born on May 23, 1943, in Wisconsin, the daughter of George and Florentina (Frey) Maier. She was married to Donald Gavinski on February 23, 1963. He preceded her in death on January 5, 2014. She will be remembered by the many friends she met while working at Memory Lane and Piggly Wiggly Bakery. Andrea loved taking care of the outside flowers at Columbia Healthcare Center. She was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Poynette. She is survived by her children, Jamie Gavinski, John (Justine) Gavinski, Richard (Brenda) Gavinski, Donald...

On Monday, March 18, 2024 the Lord took Donna J. Schwoch to her heavenly home after losing a two year battle against cancer. Donna was born on March 20, 1948 to parents, Adolph and Ruth (Peterson) Priem. She graduated from Poynette High School in 1966. Donna married the love of her life, Charlie Schwoch, on July 29, 1967. They lived in Cambria for 9 years and then moved to their new home in rural Poynette. Donna worked in the office at Gisholt Machine Co. for five years, Firstar Bank (US Bank) as a Manager for 28 years, and Baker Tilly as an Office Assistant for 13 years until retirement. She then took a seasonal position with Kohl's for six years. When Charlie started late model...

Betty Jean Michael, age 92, formerly of Arlington, WI, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Columbus Health and Rehabilitation, surrounded by her family. Jean was born on November 4, 1931, in Poynette, the daughter of Rodney and Norma (Evert) Kroncke. She married Warren R. Michael on September 30, 1967, at the Little Brown Church in Iowa. She graduated from Lodi High School, Class of 1949. Jean worked for National Mutual Benefit Insurance Co; Wisconsin State Crime Lab and the University of Wisconsin-Physics Dept. for 34 years. After retiring, she worked at Northwoods Supportive Homecare. Jean was a member of the Dekorra Lutheran Church. She is survived by her son, Roy (Barb)...

POYNETTE - Walter E. Lindner peacefully passed from this earth on Friday, January 26, 2024. Walter was born on May 2, 1937, the only child of Edwin and Elizabeth Lindner. He was a baptized member of the Inch Methodist Church, and a lifelong resident of the Dekorra / Lowville area. On October 20, 1956, he married Beatrice Woodward, and they had three children. Brian (Kathryn) Lindner, Janice (Scott) Olson and Grant (Kristen) Lindner. Walter began his adult life hauling peas and sweet corn to the local canning factory, and he had a can milk route for a time. This led to the purchase of a livestock trucking business, which had him hauling cattle for the local farmers to Oscar Mayer in...

Private service will be held. Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Poynette (www.pmmfh.com) is assisting the family.

Donald R. Jackson, age 79, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at his home in Poynette. Donald was born on July 30, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, to Ralph and Marie (Kurtz) Jackson. Interested in other ways of life even as a teenager, he spent a high school summer working at a rural farm, then enrolled in Oklahoma State University in 1962. It was in Oklahoma that Don discovered his love for environmental conservation, agriculture, and public service - and after graduation, he joined the newly established Peace Corps with an assignment in Lima, Peru. There, during what he would later call the most formative years of his life, Don met and married the former Carmen Silva on October 31,...

Devoted husband and father, Michael 'Mike' James Wilkerson passed away on December 29, 2023, at the age of 62, after a long battle with his heart. Mike was born in Southern California on September 4, 1961. His fascination with vintage goods began at an early age while exploring with his younger brother, Mark. He especially loved Volkswagens and Brew 102 beer cans amongst many other things. A few years after high school graduation, he worked alongside his older brother, Steve, in their Volkswagen auto shop. His love of cars and the road took him to truck driving school in Colorado. Along his travels he met his wife, Susan, in the spring of 1990. Mike and Susan were married on August 24,...

Henry Roger Schultz, age 84, of Poynette, passed away unexpectantly on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Henry was born on May 4, 1939, to Roger and Melinda (Graack) Schultz. Henry was married to Judy Kusrow on June 6, 1970. They celebrated 53 years of marriage. Henry worked his whole career, 40 years and 2 days, at Royster-Clark in Madison. In retirement, he worked part time at Skyline Steel in Arlington. Henry was a member of the Zor Shrine. Henry is survived by his wife, Judy; and nephews, Marvin (Karen) Stiemke, Harlan (Beth Stiemke and David (Tammy) Stiemke. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Melinda, in-laws, Wilbert "Bert" and Dora Kusrow, sister and brother-in-law,...

William "Bill" Emerson MacLeish, age 86, of Poynette, passed away peaceably on Monday, November 20, 2023, at At-Home-Again assisted living facility in Rio. His loving wife of 66 years, Mary, was holding his hand with his son Bill by his side. Bill was born on June 20, 1937, at "Doc" Emerson's House in Poynette, the son of William and Marion (Emerson) MacLeish. He first drove a Massey Harris Tractor pulling a pea harvest vine hay loader wagon at the age of 8. Bill graduated from Poynette High School, lettering in varsity basketball and baseball. He was the winning 1st event JV Poynette Skip of the 1954 Madison Invitational High School Bonspiel. On August 17, 1957, Bill married Mary...

Jeanette Marie Bohman, age 95, of Portage, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Edgerton Care Center in Edgerton, WI. Jeanette was born on April 2, 1928, in Bloomer, Wisconsin, the daughter of Tony and Sally Siverling. She was married to Lloyd Bohman on October 13, 1951, in Bloomer. He preceded her in death on February 18, 2009. Jeanette had worked at Tempo in Mitchell, SD, Jenkin Valve Co. in Portage and Weyenberg Shoe Factory in Portage. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting and sewing. She is survived by three children, Gary Bohman, and Sally (Charles) Paul; her grandchildren, Keith (Sarah) Paul, Megan (William) Webber, Corey Paul, Cheri (Rob) Hefty, and Ellen Steiner; her...

Ralph Warren Ziegler, age 88, of Mount Horeb, WI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 29, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Ralph was born on May 19, 1935, in Chicago, IL, the son of Louis and Annette (Edison) Ziegler. He moved to Lake Wisconsin at the age of 15. Ralph attended Poynette High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball, lettering in all sports. He married Shirley (Hackbart) Ziegler and had three children, Laurie, Jeff, and Kim. Ralph started working by selling vacuum cleaners and later entered the food brokerage industry co-owning his own brokerage company at the end of his career. Ralph was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved sports,...

PORTAGE - Ardis Jo Ann (Ness) Achterberg, age 84, of Portage, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Meadow View in Baraboo, surrounded by her loving family, after a long goodbye while battling with dementia. Ardis was a twin - born first - the sixth child of 12 to Thomas and Verna (VonWald) Ness. She attended Lodi schools and graduated in 1956. Her early work included babysitting, detasseling corn, and working at the corner drugstore . It was in Lodi where she met the love of her life, Leon Achterberg. Their first date was dancing at White Lake Beach Resort near Montello. Leon and Ardis were married on Oct. 3, 1959, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lodi and shared 57...

Funeral services are pending at the Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, (www.pmmfh.com). A complete obituary will follow.

Roger F. Dorman, age 84, of Poynette, passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena. Roger was born on April 17, 1939, in Madison, the son of Edward and Dorothy (Harrop) Dorman. He served his country with the U.S. Coast Guard and sailed on the Westwind. He was a proud Local 394 Union Steamfitter. Roger was the State Commander of the DAV in 2008; an active member of DAV Chapter 60; and was in charge of the DAV transport vans. He was a member of VFW Post 1707, Portage. He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer Anderson and Stephanie (John) Porcellino; his grandson, Ryan (Sarah Carlo) Prestil, and former son-in-law, Matt Prestil; his long-time...

Victor Dean Tomlinson "Vic" of Poynette, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at the age of 91. Vic was born on June 10, 1932, in Poynette, Wisconsin, the youngest son of Cecil and Marie (Kaschinske) Tomlinson. After graduating from Poynette High School, Vic volunteered as a fireman for the Poynette-Dekorra Fire Dept, as his father had, and did so for over 20 years. Vic, along with his brothers and friends, went to work for Red Dot in Madison, where he worked for many years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and served in the Fourth Platoon, Company D, 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, C.C.B. and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War until 1955. He married...

Daniel J. Stencel, age 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, June 23, 2023, at his home in Poynette, WI. Funeral arrangements are pending. A full obituary and funeral arrangements will be posted on the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home website, www.pmmfh.com, in coming weeks.

Thomas Charles Little, age 71, of Pardeeville, passed away on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. Tom was born on March 9, 1952, in Portage, the son of Russell and Betty (McFarlane) Little. He entered the U.S. Navy after high school. Tom married Debbie Koch on June 30, 1979, in Pardeeville. He was the owner/operator of Tom's Heating and Cooling, and had been a Master Mechanic at Leahy Motors in Portage. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; four children, Eric (fianc?, Michelle) Little, Kyle Little, Krystal (Ken) Zachman, and Brent (Kirsten) Little; 12 grandchildren, Mariya, Kaden, Sophia, Jasper, Elliott, and eight others; six...

Thomas Charles Little, age 71, of Pardeeville, passed away on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. Tom was born on March 9, 1952, in Portage, the son of Russell and Betty (McFarlane) Little. He entered the U.S. Navy after high school. Tom married Debbie Koch on June 30, 1979, in Pardeeville. He was the owner/operator of Tom's Heating and Cooling, and had been a Master Mechanic at Leahy Motors in Portage. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; four children, Eric (fianc?, Michelle) Little, Kyle Little, Krystal (Ken) Zachman, and Brent (Kirsten) Little; grandchildren, Mariya, Kaden, Sophia, Jasper, Elliott, and eight others; six...