Edward J. Lotzer

Edward J. Lotzer, Age 85, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Appleton, WI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of service at 12:00 Noon. Rev. Barry Saylor will officiate the service. Entombment will be held following the service at Forest Hill Mausoleum in Wisconsin Raipds.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Edward's name to Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic Schools.

Edward was born on October 12, 1940 in Menasha, WI to the late Clarence and Florence (Cepelik) Lotzer. He married Donalyn M. Patzner on September 3, 1961 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Appleton, WI. After graduating from the Madison School of Business, Edward began working for his father at Valley Nut Company. He then shifted his career to door-to-door sale for Fuller Brush before settling into his career at Home Furniture in Appleton. In April 1970, Edward opened his first Home Furniture Store in Wisconsin Rapids, expanding to Stevens Point in 1984, and then to Madison in 1999 with the La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery. All three of those stores are still open and operating today. In his younger years, Edward was a prolific athlete. He played football, basketball, and baseball for St. Mary's High School in Menasha, and was honored with an induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Edward was an avid Wisconsin Badgers fan. He had season football tickets and loved bringing his family to Badger football games and watching them compete in all sports. In his younger years, Edward enjoyed coaching youth baseball. In his free time, Edward loved golfing, water skiing, hunting and fishing. More than anything, Edward loved spending time making memories with family and friends at the family cottage in Waupaca, WI on the Chain of Lakes.

Edward is survived by his wife, Donalyn Lotzer; children, Drake (Kristin) Lotzer, Jodi (Jeff) Weinfurter, Tracy (Mark) Ghiloni, Jill (John) Livernash, and Cara (Erik) Mattson; grandchildren, Whitney (David), Katherine (Caleb), Jonathan, Nicholette (Earl jr.), Lukas, Victoriana (Nathan), Genevieve, Angelica, Julianna, Eveangelina, Cassandra (Edward), Colton, Joshua, Matthew (Sophia), Philip (Sydni), Tialyn, Walker, Brendan, and Claire; great-grandchildren, Anthony, Caroline, Everly, Einar, Charlotte, Audrey, Harper, Samuel, Monte, Gianna, Raina, and Kira; siblings, Margaret McGoey, Vicki Smith, Nettie Burnett, Robert Lotzer, and John Lotzer; brother-in-law, Gene Patzner; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Florence Lotzer; In-laws, Henry and Clara Patzner; Roxie Patzner; brothers, James Lotzer, Jerry Lotzer, and Clarence jr " Sonny" Lotzer; sisters, Marianne Stiller, Nancy Palmer, and Linda Siebert; and sister-in-law, Shari Patzner.

Edward's family would like to thank Tialyn Livernash and her family for their extraordinary care of Edward and Donalyn throughout the years.

The Lotzer family would also like to thank the entire staff at Cherry Meadows Hospice for their kindness and care of Edward and the entire Lotzer family, as well as all past and current employees of Home Furniture and the La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery for their dedication to Edward and the Lotzer family throughout the years.