Latzig, Walter J.

Walter 'Wally' J. Latzig 84, of Merrill, died Sunday, November 17, 2013, at his home in Merrill.

Wally was born September 3, 1929, in Merrill, son of the late Walter and Elly (Krajewski) Latzig. He married Betty Ann Osness on September 27, 1952, at our Saviour's Lutheran Church in the City of Merrill.

Wally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Pine River. He attended Goettchel School, completing 8th grade. He then completed 2 years of vocational school on Merrill's West side. He began work for Pine River Cheese Company and subsequently he worked on John Deere equipment for Ed and Otto Lueck. For a brief period, he was employed at a hotel in Milwaukee and returned to Merrill to work for Knispel and Krueger John Deere Dealership. He was a popular mechanic and salesman often traveling the greater Upper Michigan and Wisconsin region. In 1977, the company name changed to Knispel and Latzig, as Wally became co-owner. Wally enjoyed fixing mechanical items and visiting with customers.

After he wed Betty, they lived in Merrill where they resided until 1963. They then purchased a farm on Highway G in the Town of Pine River and raised beef, chickens and pigs. In 1978, they left the farm and moved to their present home on the Prairie River in the Town of Merrill.

Wally was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and served as an usher for many years. He was nominated and accepted in the Who's Who in America.

Prior to getting married, Wally enjoyed flying his own plane. Later, he also enjoyed snowmobiling and making wood with his friend Milt and others. He enjoyed traveling which included Alaska, Australia, Hawaii, Europe and Russia. In more recent years, Wally spent several months a year in Avon Park, Florida with his brother, Warren and other Merrill residents. At home in Merrill, he loved to sit in front of his house and visit with many friends, family and neighbors and also give Gator rides to all the children. He enjoyed the company of his cat Buzz for 20 years.

Wally is survived by his wife, Betty of Merrill; daughters, Cynthia Latzig of Merrill and Megan (Sauro) Tugnoli of Charlotte, NC; sons, Gregory (Susan) of Arlington, WI, Brian (Diana) of Gleason, WI, Mark of Merrill, and Kent (Tammy) of Merrill; 12 grandchildren, Jeremy, Shandra (Timothy) Tremain, Anthony (Melissa), Jonathon, Kimberly, Veronica, Justice (Ashley), Michael, Nicholas (Holly), Joshua (Holly), Karissa and Naoko; and 6 great-grandchildren, Alexis, Damon, Isabele, Isaac, Chad and Austin. Also surviving are sister, Joyce Peterson of Merrill; brother, Warren (Lois) of Merrill; brother-in-law, Ray (Darlene) Osness; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Severt, Elayne (Richard) Ollmann, Phyllis (Ralph) Buch, Janet Beyer-Thums, Carol Osness, Carol Osness, Faye Jean Osness. He will be further mourned by his many, nieces, nephews and friends his life has touched.

Wally was preceded in death by his cat, Buzz; his parents, Walter and Elly Latzig; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Oscar and Lucinda Osness; brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Millie Latzig; brother-in-law, George Peterson; and brothers-in-law and sisters- in-laws, Matt Severt, Harry and Betty Osness, Ervin 'Jack' Osness, Oscar and Merrill Osness, Allen Osness, Sr., Dale Osness, David Osness, and Linda Osness.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted"

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Merrill. Rev. Maurice Schaus will officiate. Burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery, Merrill. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, the Latzig family has requested memorials to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Lincoln County Humane Society, or charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for Walter's compassionate care.

Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Wausau Daily Herald from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Walter Latzig

6 Entries

Cindy

February 26, 2014

Miss you dad, wish I could have spent more time with you than I did.

Debbie Radtke(Buntrock)

November 19, 2013

Betty and Family, So sorry to hear of Wallys passing, our prayers are with you all. He was always a great friend to our family and we will have many fun memories of him!

Colleen Robl

November 19, 2013

Walt will be missed. I remember waiting on Walt when I was a waitress at Pine Ridge. He was a kind and funny man and I enjoyed waiting on him. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Tim Tremain

November 18, 2013

For Wally & Family,
I am a recent and honored addition to what I've come to know as a tightly knit, but extremely open and welcoming family that is the Latzigs (and kin). So welcoming in fact that it was never a question, but simply a fact, that Wally and Betty became my Grandma and Grandpa (my own long since passed). Although I never addressed Wally by the moniker “Grandpa”, he was that in every sense to me. Whether it was our trips to the Menards or Harbor Freight Tools, or just sitting around the kitchen table waxing on about the squirrels and blue jays that frequented his porch so loyally, or maybe it was his obvious obsession with all things mechanical that helped me to come to know and love Wally in the brief times we shared. It really didn't take long to figure out that he was a character in the best sense. It seemed only seconds (when he knew he had an audience) that he would begin a story or a quip designed to get a rise out of someone nearby. There was never an instance that I recall when the punch line wasn't followed by a little grin and wink in my direction from across the room (just to make sure the new guy knew he was kidding).
I recall my first meeting with him when I was invited on a “gator ride”. I hoped it was to learn more about me, and not to dump me in the gravel pit for consorting with his Granddaughter! It became plain to me, however, that with the vigor he told stories and histories of the people and land that we traveled that day, that this was a joy, and his freedom at that point of his life. No wonder he was so protective of that Gator.
As I got to know Wally and the family better, I found that many of the traits he possessed were not unique. Not only has his mirth and mischievous streak obviously traveled the lineage, but also the same loyalty to family, common sense, welcoming nature, and unending hospitality and openness. Surely an honorable legacy for a Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather!
As the end of his time on earth grew closer, the little moments where I could see him grow weary of the fight became more frequent. It saddened me to realize that I would not have the privilege of visiting him and making more memories for much longer. Almost everyone has far more unique memories of Wally than I. My only solace is that he leaves behind the best parts of himself in the friends and family that gather to celebrate his life, and that I can continue to learn about and cherish as time goes on.

Thank you Wally for your legacy of family…

...and for that wink from across the room.

I'll miss it…Your Grandson, Tim

Shelby and Rodney Smithback

November 18, 2013

Greg, Sue and Family,
Thinking of you at this time of loss. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Mary & Mike Narlock

November 18, 2013

I am going to miss you and all the good times we had sitting outside telling stories.

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