Saturday, February 15, 2025
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Gail Marie (Miller) Losch Strid

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Gail Marie (Miller) Losch Strid, 75, of Rhinelander, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2025. She was born on July 21, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois to Genevieve (Larson) and Roy Miller. Gail’s pattern of connecting and caring for others began early. Friendships made from a young age lasted the rest of her life. She attended Bethesda Lutheran Elementary School and Luther North High School, graduating in 1967. As the oldest sibling Gail was the

babysitter and guide. In Chicago she met her first husband, Bill Losch. Gail earned a certificate as a Radiology Technician from the University of Chicago. She and Bill moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin in 1972 and started a family. Tragedy would bring her to Woodruff in 1973 to rebuild.

Here she met Craig Strid. In 1975 they married and moved to Rhinelander, bought a house and never moved out. They grew and raised their family, later enjoying having grandkids return to participate in the same traditions. Many people she holds dear today started as King Street neighbors. The house and driveway were a hub of card, craft, baking or birthday parties, neighborhood packs of kids moving in and out, the coming and going for youth activities of all kinds. Gail formed many new Rhinelander friendships that lasted the rest of her days. These “Sisters” were like family to her–they enjoyed golf, traveling, Briar House visits, prayer circles and more.

Gail worked for Marshfield Clinic. To the delight of many of her pets, she also worked at Foster & Smith. Her years of work with the School District of Rhinelander, mostly as a special education aide, was a source of pride. Volunteering was important to her, and she did this through the PEO sisterhood, Women’s Club and other organizations.

The title that most fit Gail’s purpose in her second half of life was Grandparent. She watched many hockey and other athletic contests, saved paper clippings, attended concerts, went on shopping excursions, baked treats and more. She was a role-model, guide, fan and harbor for them, as she was for so many others.

Gail is survived by her husband, Craig Strid; sons, William Losch, David Strid and Douglas Strid; her daughters by marriage, Kati Havel Strid and Nicole Losch; grandchildren, Madeline, Jakob, and Leonardo Losch, Carson and Jilly Strid; siblings Gwen Wallmark (Walt), Kirk Miller (Ann), Geri Miller (Howard Ellis), and Gami Miller; many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Losch III, her parents, and her brother, Mark.

A longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Gail also served as a Chaplain for the PEO group. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Trinity, Habitat for Humanity Northwoods Wisconsin, Headwaters, Inc., or another charity of your choice.

There will be a visitation for Gail on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, with a funeral service following at 12:00 noon, all at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Reverends Timothy and Kari Vadis will officiate. Interment will take place in the Ridgewood Memorial Park in Des Plaines, Illinois.

You may leave your private condolences for the Strid family at www.carlsonfh.com. The Carlson Funeral Home (715- 369-1414) is serving the family.