1944-2022 Russell “Russ” James Buss passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. A visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Milan. Interment will follow at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery. Rev. Michael Mathey will officiate. A live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website. Russ was born on June 11, 1944, the son of Chester and Lillian (Venzke) Buss in Wausau. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Milan. Russ attended Bruckerville Grade School and graduated from Dor-Abby High School in 1962. After high school, he attended farm short course in Madison and upon returning home he farmed and for a short time drove the can milk truck. On May 29, 1965, Russ married the love of his life, Shirley Marzinske at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dorchester. They were married for 57 years and raised four children together. Russ served his community in many active roles serving in various capacities in the church, was on the board of Taylor Electric for several years and Dorchester Co-op and was a member of the Colby FFA Alumni for many years. His hobbies included collecting toy tractors, going to steam and gas shows, reading agricultural history and playing cards. He always enjoyed watching the activities of his children and grandchildren which were his pride and joy. Russ instilled his values of faith, family, friendship and hard work in his children and grandchildren. Those who will cherish his memory include his loving wife, Shirley, of Athens; son, Warren of Abbotsford; daughter, Patricia (Shane) Hammel of Abbotsford; son-in-law, John Baeten of De Pere; four grandchildren: Zackary Buss, Isaac, Olivia and Ashton Hammel; great-granddaughter, Oaklynn Buss; brother-in-law, Ed Marzinske of Dorchester and sister-in-law, Diane Marzinske (John Borgemoen) of Lake Holcombe; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cheryl Baeten; son, Gary Buss; grandsons: Jack Baeten and Anthony Hammel; parents, Chester and Lillian Buss and father and mother-in-law, Edwin and Loretta Marzinske. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Building Fund. Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com. Paid Obituary 127099

1947-2022 Terrance J. McCluskey, 75, of Rib Lake, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 at Aspirus Hospital in Medford. Cremation rites have been accorded and a celebration of life will take place on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. at Mohrs Bar, N126 State Hwy 102, Rib Lake, WI. 54470. Terrance was born on July 28, 1947 to James and Christina (Schabel) McCluskey in Rib Lake. After his schooling he served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. After his service, he moved to Sussex, Wis., where he worked at Briggs and Stratton for 36 years until his retirement. In his retirement, he moved to Rib Lake. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Terrance is survived by his children, James (Laura) McCluskey, Kelly (Adam) Carlson; grandchildren, Kaitlynn (Ryan) Johnson, Shannon (Tanner) Eggenberger; and great-grandchildren, Noah and Blake. His sister, Sherry (Mitchell) Smith. The love of his life, Teri Mohr and her children, Greg (Cecelia) Mohr and Linda Mohr (John); grandchildren, Megan (Taurean) Ziembo, Cody (Robbi) Bjelland and Cade (Kelly) Fliehs; great-grandson, Odin Ziembo; step-grandchildren, Lindsey (Austin) Stump and Brady (Marissa) Mallos; and step great-grandchildren Brayton and Ava Lynn. Terrance was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roger, Ray, and Robert; grandson, Derek Doro. Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice. com. Paid Obituary 127132

1950-2022 Madonna Lee Blackburn, 72, of Medford, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 at Clark County Healthcare Center in Owen, with her husband by her side and while under the care of Hope Hospice. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stetsonville withFr.PatrickMcConnell officiating, with lunch following at the Centennial Hall. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and may go to the Sacred Heart Youth or to the Holy Rosary Youth. Madonna was born Jan. 13, 1950 in Sterling, Ill. to Howard and Pauline (Andreson) Young. She grew up in Clinton, Iowa and graduated from Clinton High School. She earned her Nursing degree from Clinton Community College. Later while working full-time and raising four kids, she attended UW-Oshkosh earning her BSN in Nursing. On Aug. 10, 1974, she married Ron Blackburn in Clinton. The love they shared was strong and built on faith and commitment. They moved to the Medford area to farm and raise their family. Madonna worked as a nurse at Memorial Health Center in Medford, then at the Stanley Hospital and then went to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield to work in the Critical Care Unit, the nursing job she was born to do. Over the years, Madonna trained many other nurses and had a great impact on those she taught, as well as those she served as patients. She was well respected by the medical staff and loved by patients and their families, as she would advocate for her patients care and dignity. Once she was no longer able to work in critical care, she became the first ultrasound nurse at Abiding Care in Medford. Although she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, she never lost her nursing skills and was lovingly referred to as the “3rd nurse on staff” while at Clark County. She was always caring for other residents and helping the nursing staff. Even as the disease progressed, she never forgot her husband, Ron or the love she had for her family. To say Madonna was proud of her family was an understatement! She loved attending her grandchildren’s events, enough to switch her work schedule around so she could be at them more often. She also enjoyed reading and gardening and had the most beautiful roses. She was a talented artist and would draw, paint and etch treasured gifts for her friends and family. She will be dearly missed by her husband, Ron of Medford; children, Michelle (Heath) Poehler of Westboro, Michael (Deana) Blackburn of Bennettsville, S.C., Matthew Blackburn and Mackenzie “Mac” (Tresa) Blackburn, all of Medford; a sister, Lorraine Dawdy of Roodhouse, Ill.; eight beloved grandchildren, Samantha (fiancé Adam Klein) Poehler, Cassandra and Oscar Poehler, Bryce, Lydia, Autumn, Ike, and Michael Dean Blackburn; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and three siblings, Vi, Ron and Kay. Madonna’s selfless nature lives on…her body was donated for teaching and research in hopes of helping others going into the medical profession, including several of her grandchildren. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Clark County Healthcare for being Madonna’s second family and taking excellent care of her; and to Hope Hospice who provided care and dignity in her final days. Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com. Paid Obituary ad# 127144

1923-2022 Long-time Medford resident Kathryn (Kay) Heglund joined her beloved husband Charlie on their journey to eternal life on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. She passed away one month shy of her 99th birthday in Menomonee Falls, Wis. where she has lived since Feb. 2016, first at Menomonee Place and recently at The Arboretum assisted living. Kay was born in Ashland, Wis. on Oct. 24, 1923 to Michael and Mary (Anich) Davis with a proud Croatian heritage. She grew up in Ashland and attended St. Agnes Parochial School and then graduated from DePadua High School. On July 24, 1943 Kay married Charles Heglund at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Ashland. In 1955 they moved to Medford where together they raised three sons who survive her: Jeffrey (Hilda Krohn), Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Wayne (Kathleen McGuire), Clinton, Wis. and Davis (Linda Clausnitzer), Lexington, Minn. The couple celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary before his Alzheimer’s illness progressed and his death in 1998. Kay’s primary work was caring for her family, but she later worked for the A& P and Copps grocery stores and as secretary to the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce. Upon retirement, community volunteer work became an important part of Kay’s life. She served Taylor County’s Commission on Aging as well as the Medford hospital’s Diabetic Board. At Holy Rosary Catholic Church, she served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. An avid reader, Kay enjoyed working with elementary school students as well as reading to residents of the Medford nursing home. A regular visitor at the nursing home, Kay often called (and enjoyed playing) bingo and made rosettes during the holidays. She also enjoyed knitting, providing baby items for the hospital nursery, and delighting nursing home staff, friends, and family with her familiar checkerboard slippers. Survivors also include her six adult grandchildren, Kenneth Heglund, Sheri (James) Krause, Ryan (Lara) Heglund, Kimberly (Jaime) Espinosa, Kelly (Chris) Mallinger and Stacey (Brian) Rudolph; and her ten great grandchildren, Kaitlin, Abigail and Ethan Krause, Reece, Hunter and Wesley Mallinger, Peyton and Anori Rudolph, Sylvia Heglund and Adela Espinosa. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her three brothers and two sisters. She is survived by brother-in-law Edward Walczak in Medford and sister-in-law Bernadine Heglund in Salem, Ore. Many nieces and nephews from coast to coast also survive with fond memories of “Auntie Kay”.

1924-2022 Cinderella “Cindy” Piotrowski, 97, of Jump River passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at home under the care of Hope Hospice and her daughter. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church-Jump River with Father Vijay Kumar Madani officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Nebo Cemetery-Jump River. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 at the Gilman Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. She was born to the late Maurice and Eleonora (Turnes) Hecker on Nov. 9, 1924. She married Warren Ahlers, and they had two children, Andrea and Janine. They later divorced. On July 19th, 1968, she married James Piotrowski. The two ran Piotrowski’s Tavern (Jim & Cindy’s) in Jump River for many years. Cindy loved playing her many harmonicas, and she thrilled everyone with her yodeling, while playing her piano. She could play almost any instrument (including guitar and banjo), paint any picture (she’s done numerous), beat you at a game of pool or cards, and tell the best stories. She was high spirited, made forever friends daily, never turned down a motorcycle ride, and never stopped dancing. She truly loved life and she lived it to the fullest. She is survived by her daughter, Janine (Matt) Ahlers Scott; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Cindy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James in 2015; her daughter, Andrea Mc-Gary; and siblings, Artie “Sonny” Hecker and Helen Gessnor. Paid Obituary 127054

1938-2022 David J. Geiger, 84, of Dorchester, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at his residence surrounded by family with support from Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan with Rev. George Graham officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until time of service. Military honors will be conducted by the Athens area veterans group at the church following the Mass. The honor of pallbearer belongs to his grandchildren, Eric Bettin, Russell Geiger, Jonathon Geiger, Jacob Geiger and Alan Geiger. Honorary pallbearers are Melissa Cokl, Michelle Starke, Jenna Geiger, Grace Geiger and Brooke Geiger. David was born on May 31, 1938, in Dorchester, the son of Michael and Amelia (Lang) Geiger. He attended St. Louis Catholic School and graduated from Dorchester High School. After graduation, he went on to serve his country in the United States Navy from 1956 until his honorable discharge in 1960. On Feb. 17, 1962, he was united in marriage to Carol Weiler at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Athens. He was employed with Ackeret Brothers Sales and Service for 40 years. He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan. David enjoyed fishing and hunting, tending to his garden, driving his John Deere Tractors or simply spending time making memories in the woods. To his family, Dad was a practical man, making do with what he had, always finding a way to fix it, patch it or extend its life and usefulness. Those who will cherish his memory include his loving wife, Carol of Dorchester; his daughter, Cheryl (Earl) Bettin of Wausau; his sons, Greg (Dawn) Geiger of Marshfield, Brian (Nancy) Geiger of Owen and Lee (Amy) Geiger of Medford; his grandchildren, Eric Bettin of Wausau, Melissa (John) Cokl of Marshfield, Michelle (Ben) Starke of St. Francis, Jon (Kelly) Geiger of Marshfield, Jenna (Dom) Geiger of Marshfield, Russell Geiger of N.Y., Alan (Ashley) Geiger of N.Y., and Brooke Geiger of Owen, Jacob Geiger of Marathon and Grace Geiger of Milwaukee; and his great-grandchildren, Tylan, Jackson, and Maxwell Cokl and Cayson and Madyson Geiger. He is further survived by his siblings, Theresa Geiger, Jane (Dick) Austin and Mark Geiger; and his in-laws, Geri Geiger, Pat Geiger, Don Peissig, Nancy Weiler, Tom (Betsy) Weiler, Nancy Weiler, Bev Fula, Sherri (Clay) Boeger, Dan (Florica) Weiler along with many other relatives, friends and comrades. David was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Amelia Geiger; his stepmother, Betty Geiger; his sister, Margaret Peissig; his brothers, Norbert, Paul, and Cyril Geiger; his brothers-in-law, David Weiler, Norbert Weiler, Richard Erdman and Bernard Fula; his sisters-in-law, Lois Geiger, Barbara Weiler and Rose Simchick; and his parents-in-law, Theodore and Gertrude Weiler. David’s arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome. com. Paid Obituary 127109