Obituaries from The Post Crescent, Appleton Wisconsin Thursday 27 April 2000 Leslie William Babbitts Wichita Falls, Texas Age 63, died Tuesday, April 25, 2000. He was born in Neenah on August 8, 1936. He was a member of Grace Church, a member of the American Legion, the Retired Enlisted Assoc., and the D.A.V. He received a degree at Weyland Baptist University and also attended MSU. He retired with 20 years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force and 13 years with the Civil Service as an Instructor with the Department of Communication at Sheppard Air Force Base. He is survived by his wife, Kathe (Huebner) Babbitts, Wichita Falls, Texas; a daughter, Dorothea Ruth Evers, Wichita Falls; two brothers, Al Babbitts, Neenah; Oliver Babbitts, Arizona; three grandchildren, Sean Michael Evers, Kris Malachi Evers, and David Adam Evers, all of Wichita Falls; a sister-in-law, Johanna Huebner Gerhorst, St. Peter-Ording, Germany. Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 27, 2000, at Owens & Brumley Funeral Home with Pastor Thomas Rodgers of Grace Church, Wichita Falls, officiating. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Lawton, Oklahoma. Memorials to the Building Fund at Grace Church on Cedar Elm Street in Wichita Falls, Texas, would be appreciated. Rose C. Bahr 373 Fairview Way, Shawano Age 79, died Tuesday, April 25, 2000 at her home. She was born on June 17, 1920 in the Town of Oneida, Outagamie County, the daughter of the late James and Catherine (Brandow) Samson. She was a resident of Shawano since 1951 and had been employed at Chaimson's for 25 years. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Town of Washington, a past member of the Ladies Aid, and attended the church Bible study group. She enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, and other craft work. She was married to Alvin Pierre on June 15, 1940. He preceded her in death in 1974. She then married Ray Bahrke, and he preceded her in death in 1984. She then married Edwin Bahr, and her preceded her in death in 1991. Rose is survived by a daughter, Ginni (Larry) Baker, Minocqua; a son, Ron (special friend Zelma Hall) Pierre, Menasha; five grandchildren, Bradford (Barbara) Baker, Stuart (Jane) Baker, Rebecca Baker, Kim Pierre, and Todd Pierre; two great-grandchildren, Christian Baker and Mary Gwen; one brother and two sisters, Hugh (Agnes) Samson, Seymour; Ruth Hoffman, Green Bay; and Florence Maass, Seymour. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Betsy Ann; and eight brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Town of Washington, with the Reverend David P. Miller officiating with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Shawano. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Friday at the church until the time of services. Swedberg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Verna M. Gracyalny Appleton Age 80, died April 24, 2000 at the Outagamie County Health Center. Verna was born January 14, 1920 in Hortonia, to the late John and Rhoda (Fulcer) Haynes. Funeral Services will be 8:45 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2000 at the funeral home. WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME 537 North Superior Street Appleton 739-1231 Fermin Javier Leon Neenah Age 21, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 26, 2000. Arrangements are pending with Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home. Marvis J. Pechman (Mrs. Frank J.) Ellison Bay, Wisconsin Age 80, died in Scottsdale, Arizona, on April 25, 2000. Marvis was born in Hilbert, Wisconsin, on August 3, 1919, to Verna and Arno Schmidt. She was married on March 22, 1941, to Frank J. Pechman. Mrs. Pechman was co-owner and vice-president of the F.J. Pechman Corporation, which included portrait studios in Green Bay, Appleton and a studio plus a color finishing laboratory in Kaukauna. After her retirement to Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, she was active as a trustee for the Peninsula Arts Association, director of the Hardy Gallery, and a docent at the Miller Art Center. She belonged to the Newcomers Bible Study Group of Ellison Bay. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Frank; sisters, Betty, Mrs. E. N. Grittner, Chilton, Wisconsin; Carol, Mrs. Willard Mackin, Appleton, Wisconsin; daughter, Lynn Hardin and granddaughters, Kelly, Jody and Wendy, New York; daughter, Fawn (John) Shillinglaw, Appleton, Wisconsin; grandsons, Kirk (Gwen) Shillinglaw, Westfield, Wisconsin; Craig (Kris Parker) Shillinglaw, Eugene, Oregon; great-grandson, Jake Shillinglaw, Westfield, Wisconsin. No funeral service will be held. Memorial gifts in the name of Marvis Pechman may be send to the Door County Land Trust - P.O. Box 345 - Ephraim, WI 54211 John J. Stepanski Menasha Age 91, died Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at his home. John was born August 22, 1908, in Menasha, the son of the late Frank and Veronica (Jakowski) Stepanski. He married Catherine Young on May 15, 1934. John was a member of St. John Catholic Church in Menasha and had been employed at American Can Company for 46 years. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; two sons, John Jr. "Jack" (Edith) Stepanski, Oshkosh; James (Carol) Stepanski, Menasha; two daughters, Mary (Eugene) Piette, Neenah; Janet Gugala, Menasha; 14 grandchildren, Cindy (Chuck) Anderson, Cheryl (Dennis)) Gruse, Laurie (Eric) Palmquist, all of Oshkosh; Jeff and Barb Stepanski, Menasha; Scott and Peggy Stepanski, Appleton; Debbie Stepanski, Appleton; Pat and Diane Piette, Oshkosh; Joe Piette, Maryland; John Piette - Joanne, California; David and Ann Piette, Milwaukee; Chris and Kim Gugala, Appleton; Catherine Gugala, Menasha; Daniel and Susan Gugala, Wauwatosa; Michael Gugala and Jaime, Minnesota; and 14 great-grandchildren. Also special friends of the family, Rosemary Hayes and Bob Trader. He was preceded in death by a brother, Alfred, and one son-in-law, Joe Gugala. Funeral services for John will be held on Friday, April 28, 2000, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church in Menasha with Father Paul Radetski and Father Mike Carroll officiating. Entombment will be in Highland Memorial Park, Appleton. Friends may call for visitation on Thursday evening (TONIGHT) at the Laemmrich Community Funeral Home in Menasha from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be a prayer service on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. There will also be visitation at the church on Friday morning from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. John will be dearly missed by all. Laura W. Weihing Center Valley Age 90, died on Monday, April 24, 2000 at her home. She was born in the Town of Freedom on April 3, 1910, to the late Albert and Emma (Schroeder) Harp. On June 23, 1934, she married Marvin Weihing; he preceded her in death in January of 1985. Laura was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in the Town of Ellington. Laura and Marvin farmed for many years in Center Valley. Laura will be sadly missed by her son, Wayne Weihing, Ketchikan, Alaska; daughter, Carol and husband Clark Schabo, Center Valley; grandchildren, Susan and husband Don Demeres, Kentucky; Yvonne and husband Steve Ripley, Alaska; Chris Weihing, Alaska; Lorie and husband Tom Schabo Grabowski, Minnesota; Kevin Schabo, Oshkosh, and special friend Anjie Dettlaff; great- grandchildren in Alaska: Monica, Dillon, and Chelsie; sisters-in-law, Christine Harp, South Dakota; and Mabel Harp, Appleton; special relative, Walter Osterlund, Neenah; other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Ida Schroeder, Anna Springstroh, Bertha Green, Alma Harp, and Linda Semrow; five brothers, Herman, August, Edward, Otto, and Harry Harp; and a special niece and godchild, Betty Osterlund. The Funeral Service will be on Friday, April 28, 2000, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in the Town of Ellington, with the Reverend Joel Lillo officiating. The visitation will be on Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home and again on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. A memorial has been established. Valley Funeral Home 2211 N. Richmond St. 733-5435 *Serving as would be Served * Bernerd C. Wilhelm Menasha Age 71, died Tuesday evening, April 25, 2000. He was born April 27, 1928, in Aniwa, Wisconsin, to the late Charles and Anna (Sengpiel) Wilhelm and had been an area resident since the age of 18. Bernie served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Survivors include his wife, Nancy J. (Botker) Wilhelm, to whom he had been married for 45 years; two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Ann Altman and her fiance, Jim Puls, Kaukauna; Lisa Jean and Dennis Nieft, Townsend; two sons and a daughter-in-law, David Merle Wilhelm, Appleton; Bernerd Charles and Nancy Wilhelm Jr., Pemberton, New Jersey; six grandchildren; and a half-sister, Florence (George) Malliet, New London. He was preceded in death by a brother, Glen Wilhelm; a half-brother, Ervin Siewert; and a half-sister, Dorothy Love. It was Bernerd's request that no services be held. The family would like to thank the staff of Outagamie County Health Center for their loving care and support. WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME 537 North Superior Street Appleton 739-1231 Lucille L. Winter Hortonville Age 88, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus her Savior, at her home with her daughter at her side following a three-month battle with cancer on Tuesday, April 25, 2000. She was born January 2, 1912 in the Town of Bloomfield, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Henry and Martha (Schoenick) Timm. Lucille was baptized on January 28, 1912, by Pastor Nauman at Christ Lutheran Church, West Bloomfield, and she renewed her baptismal vow in April 1924 at that church. By God's grace and through His mercy in Christ Jesus, Lucille remained faithful to her confirmation vows until the time of her death. She was united in marriage to Art Winter on November 7, 1937, in West Bloomfield, Wisconsin. They were blessed with three children. He preceded her in death on July 10, 1990. Lucille enjoyed farming, gardening and fishing with her husband in Bloomfield until 1965 when they moved to Hortonville. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in East Bloomfield since her marriage and was active in Ladies Aid. Survivors include her son, Robert Winter, Fremont; two daughters, Beverly (David) Nygaard, Appleton; Cynthia Winter, Madison; sister-in-law, Angela Grunwald, Oshkosh; special nephew, Willard Winter, Menasha; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Lucille was preceded in death by two sisters, Lorena Sell and Leanora Pike. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 29, 2000, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in East Bloomfield with the Reverend Gerhard Schapekahm officiating. Burial will be in East Bloomfield Cemetery. Friends may call at the Lewin Funeral Home, Fremont, on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Lucille's family wishes to thank a very special cousin, Leona Kemp and friend of the family, Althea Kern who graciously gave bedside care. We were blessed to know neighbor Peter Gitter who was especially attentive to Mom these last three months and also for his help in the past years. Mom was proud to call him friend. Thanks to Dr. Yu for his tenderness in care and to Dr. Swanson for his concern and helping us understand. And then there was Diane and Chriss from hospice - your kindness was so appreciated and made it possible for us to keep Mom in her own home.