Edwin Anthony Wichlacz

Edwin Anthony Wichlacz, age 91, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at The Waterford of Colby under the tender care of Heartland Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan. Father George Graham will officiate. Interment to follow at the church cemetery with Military Honors provided by Edgar American Legion Post #393. Please join the family for visitation at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home on Thursday, January 30 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. and Friday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service.
Edwin was born on March 20, 1933, the son of Anton and Lucille (Kordus) Wichlacz in the Town of Rietbrock, Marathon County. He served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War from 1953-1955, earning the rank of E-4, Corporal Squad Leader and continued to serve in the Army Reserves for eight years. On July 10, 1954, Edwin was united in marriage to Betty Carol Zobrak at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan. They lived in Milan for 68 years.
Edwin worked for 33 years at Kraft Foods in Milan until 1989 when the plant closed. He also drove milk truck part time. He then worked at Weathershield in Medford and Wisconsin Dairies in Milan retiring in 1996.
Edwin was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan and Catholic Family. He was a member of the Edgar American Legion Post #393.
Edwin could figure out how to fix just about anything. He enjoyed woodworking crafts with his wife, hunting, fishing, camping, cutting wood, gardening, canning pickles, making sauerkraut, growing horseradish, tomatoes, feeding and watching the birds. Edwin especially enjoyed playing checkers with his children and grandchildren and worked on puzzles. He also collected Jim Bean fish bottles and mini oil lamps. Edwin was honored to go on the "Never Forgotten Honor Flight" in September 2017 accompanied by his son, Scott. He was born during a snow storm, so his personal tradition on March 20, was to shovel snow. Some years was easier than other years as he had to go look for it from a snow bank in Milan. Even on his 91st birthday, his son Scott had to search for snow and deliver it to his residence at The Waterford, just so he could throw a few shovels with the help of his daughter, Julie.
Edwin is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty; five children: Gale (Gerard) Schreiber of Athens, Scott (RaeAnn) Wichlacz of Medford, Pamela (Rick) Ahles, Wisconsin Rapids, Julie (Kevin) Lentz of Merrill and Lynn (Kevin) Barttelt of Weston; 14 grandchildren: Jeremy Schreiber, Russell Schreiber, Travis Wichlacz, Jay Wichlacz, Ryan Wichlacz, Beth Wichlacz, Ashley Ahles, Amanda Ahles, Kacie Gibbs, Nathan Gibbs, Rebecca Consolver, Riley Adam Consolver, Andy Consolver and Trevor Barttelt; three step-grandchildren: Joe Mahl, Sarah Lentz and McKinley Lentz; 12 Great-Grandchildren: Haylee Schreiber, Austin Schreiber, Ryan Schreiber, Logan Wichlacz, Paxton Wichlacz, Dakota Wichlacz, Makayla Wichlacz, Aubree Wichlacz, Koal Wichlacz, Kayden Dassow, Kaleb Dassow and Aspyn Steele; three step-great-grandchildren: Devin Sperber, Gaj Mahl and Skylar Mahl and one great-great-grandchild: Jasper Nyhus. He is further survived by his brother, Jeffrey (Joanne) Wichlacz; three sisters-in-law: Joan Wichlacz, Joyce Wichlacz and Marvel Choroszy; and a brother-in-law Ronald (Jean) Zobrak; plus many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, John and Irene Zobrak; three brothers: Eugene Wichlacz, Roger Wichlacz and Larry Wichlacz; one sister, Gladys Martin; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Shirley Wichlacz, Jack Martin, Harriet (Bill) Duerst, Virginia (Raymond) Vieau, Zygmunt Choroszy.
The Wichlacz family would like to thank the staff at The Waterford in Colby and Heartland Hospice for the compassionate care Edwin received.