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Mary S. Benda, 59, of Rhinelander, died Dec. 28, 2011. She was born Dec. 5, 1952, in Rhinelander. She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Marvin (Angela) Sivertsen, Kristina (Terry) Budreau, August Shimkus; and her step-daughter, Grace Benda, all of Rhinelander; seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; her brothers, Gary Coppenger and Pat Rappley; and four sisters, Lori, Linda, Pam and Cathy. She was preceded by her parents. There will be no services.
Joyce G. Dietzler, 71, of Fort Collins, Colo., and formerly of Rhinelander, died Dec. 25, 2011. She was born Aug. 21, 1940, in Rhinelander, to Viginia and Alex Dietzler. She is survived by her sons, Jon Kolb of Fort Collins and Robert (Cindy) Kolb of Oconomowoc; two grandchildren; her brothers, Mike, Ken and Dan Dietzler; her sisters, Sue (Howard) Krook, Marlene (Bill) Heath, Cindy (Vern) Lowther, Doreen (Daryl) Lee and Kathy (Dave) Matthews. She was preceded by her parents; and a brother and a sister. Joyce attended school in Rhinelander and then worked as a CNA for Good Samaritan Village in Fort Collins, retiring in 2009. Services were held Jan. 3 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Collins.

Chad R. Doughty, 19, of Rhinelander, died Jan. 4, 2012. He was born April 4, 1992, in Rhinelander, to Randy “Bud” and Sharon Doughty. He is survived by his parents, his sisters Kelly (Nathan) Lemmens of Milwaukee and Karli, at home; and his grandparents, Clifford and Elizabeth Napralla of Princeton and Phillip and Beverly Doughty of Ripon. At the family’s request there will be no services.
(Hildebrand-Russ Funeral Home)

Jean I. Prueser, 83, of Gleason, Colo., and formerly of Parrish, died Jan. 9, 2012, at Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center in Merrill. She was born Feb. 19, 1928, in Parrish, to Philip and Lottie (Fralick) Pond. She is survived by her husband, Cliff; her daughters, Leona (Carl) Vander Sanden of Gleason and Gloria (Bruce) Rahlf of Rhinelander; her son, Terry (Alice) of Gleason; 10 grandchildren; and her sister, Nellie Reed. She was preceded by her first husband, Henry Prueser; two sisters, Cora Robison-Wickham and Lenita Litzen; and her brothers, Norris, Louis, James, Leonard and Warren Pond. Jean worked as a cook at Dudley, Gleason and Midway schools. Funeral services were held Jan. 13 at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.
(Taylor-Stine Funeral Home)

Marie D. Riopel, 96, of Rhinelander, died Jan. 4, 2012. She was born March 30, 1915, in St. Rose, Quebec, Canada, to Joseph and Deneige Lacasse. She is survived by her daughters, Lucille Palm and Vivianne (Tom) Stevens both of Rhinelander; her sons, Gerry (Michele), Andre (Kathleen), John (Kathy), Yves (Ruth) and Robert (Cheryl), all of Rhinelander and Edmond (Becky) of Milwaukee; 16 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; her sister, Gemma (Ludger) Carriere; and her brother, Gaston Lacasse. She was preceded by her husband, Lucien in 1976; her son, Guy; two sisters; and six brothers. Private family services will be held at a later date.
(Carlson Funeral Home)

Esther G. Schoepfer, 80, of Three Lakes, died Jan. 9, 2012, at Lillian E. Kerr Nursing Home in Phelps. She was born March 27, 1931, in Birnamwood, to Edward and Emma Behn. She is survived by her daughters, Nancy (Ken) Thorn of Sugar Camp, Cheryl (Brian) Boers of Three Lakes, Jane (John) Lang of Wausau and Joan (Bob) Dutz of Three Lakes; her brothers, Harold (Nancy) Behn of Anoka, Minn., and Norman (Sharron) Behn of Biramwood; her sister, Delores (Ben) Benishek of Biramwodd; nine grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. She was preceded by her husband, Stanley “Stub”; and her sister, Evelyn Kwiatoski. Esther worked at numerous grocery stores throughout the area. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 13 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Three Lakes.
(Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home)