Jeffrey A. Winkler, age 59, of Gillett, passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Jeff was born Oct. 4, 1962, in Milwaukee to Gerald and Karen Winkler. He graduated from Gillett High School with the Class of 1981 and went on to attend UW-River Falls. Jeff worked at Architectural Fiberglass and Carver Boat. In 1988, Jeff developed viral encephalitis with an unknown origin. Jeff was able to live in his own home for 22 years.

Judith Mae “Judy” Nelson, 70, started working at Heaven’s welcome center at 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Judy’s self-diagnosis of congestive heart failure had recently been confirmed. She was born in Oconto Falls on Feb. 1, 1951, to the late Alfred “Swede” and Jeannette (Backhaus) Nelson. Judy grew up in the Gillett area and graduated from Gillett High School in 1969. She attended Bellin School of Nursing and graduated with an RN degree.

James “Jim” Knoke of Champaign, Illinois, (formerly of Gresham) passed away Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois at the age of 92. Jim was born June 30, 1929, the son of Herman and Lucy Knoke in Gresham. He was a Class of 1946 graduate of Gresham High School. He often told stories of his early life growing up amid the forests and farmlands, lakeshores and riverbeds. He enlisted in the U.S.

Gary Burr, 70, of Shawano, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. Gary was born in Shawano to the late Gordon and Phyllis (Lenzner) Burr. Gary graduated from Shawano High School with the class of 1970 before enlisting with the United States Marine Corps. On October 13, 1973, Gary was united in marriage to Karen Duchac in Antigo.

Michael J. “Mikey Joe” Soman, 57, of Shawano, started his journey to the spirit world on Wednesday evening, Jan. 19, 2022, at Appleton Medical Center where he had been a patient for the past four days. Michael was born Oct. 30, 1964, in Oakland, California, a son of the late Myron and Dorothea (Waubanascum) Soman. He graduated from Menominee Indian High School in 1982. Following school, he was employed at the casino.

Fred Pahl, 90, died suddenly after a brief illness, on Jan. 15, 2022. He was born on Oct. 23, 1931 in Shawano County and graduated from Shawano High School in 1949. Fred began work at Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent) in 1950 after one year at Valparaiso University. His employment was interrupted when he joined the Navy in March 1951 during the Korean conflict.