Obituaries
Remembering our Squash Lake Friends - 2021
Albert L. Meinen
With profound sadness we share the devastating news that Bugsy Meinen left us suddenly and peacefully on Monday, April 19, 2021.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 13, 1954, he moved to Muskego, Wisconsin at the age of four and lived the rest of his life as a Muskegoean. Bugs was a junior who adored his parents and selflessly cared for his mother. He was a proud Warrior athlete who graduated from Muskego High School in 1972. He married his high school sweetheart and gave back to the community through serving on the volunteer fire department as well as an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Sandhill Boosters Club. Ho, Ho, Ho!
He loved spending time and entertaining at his lake home in Rhinelander on Squash Lake and in Muskego on Little Muskego Lake. He never turned down an opportunity to spend time with his family or friends either at a Brewers Game, enjoying the outdoors, playing a friendly round of golf, or having a cold drink. Cheers!
Bugs was preceded in death by his wife of 27 years, Sandy Meinen (Pausch) and father, Al Meinen. Bugsy is survived by his partner, Leanne Gaura, mother, Elaine Meinen, sister, Cindy, brother, Earl (Butch), sister, Lisa, son, Jay (Jodi), daughter, Stacey, son, Andrew (Nedra), grandson, Talan (14), granddaughter, Tatum (12), grandson, Hudson (3), grandson, Hendrix (1), granddaughter, Olivia (5) and countless others who loved him like a father, brother, and grandfather.
Bugsy was a great one who will be remembered as an honorable, honest, and humble man living each day to the fullest. He was a protector and rock for his loved ones and could light up a room with his smile. Bugsy was everyone’s friend and welcomed all into his home with his kind and warm personality. He was one of the hardest workers who believed in the value of a dollar and the importance of vacation time. His legacy will live on with each of his loved ones and those who have been blessed to know him. He would want us all to live the high life. Probst...
Remembering our Squash Lake Friends - 2020
Ronald "Ron" D. Appling
83, of the Town of Crescent, passed away on Tuesday evening, November 10, 2020 at his home with his family at his side and under the care of Ascension at Home Hospice.
Ron was born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa on January 29, 1937, to Ralph and Ruth I. (Reynolds) Appling. He was raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended a trade school in Des Moines, Iowa where he learned how to paint. This led him to serve an apprenticeship with a painting company located in Des Moines.
Ron had a love for horses, and it was during this time while living in Des Moines that he met his future wife Janet Z. Degris who also had a love for horses. The couple met at a stable where they kept their horses which happened to be right next to each other. Their dates consisted of horseback riding together. Janet was in the military and was stationed in Des Moines as a recruiter. The couple got to know each other by horseback riding for a year and a half. They were united in marriage by a Justice of the Peace on July 20, 1968 in Indianola, Iowa.
Janet was transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and for the next four years the couple lived there.
Before Janet had met Ron, she had purchased land on Peninsula Road in the Town of Crescent. Upon her completion with the military, the couple then moved to Rhinelander.
Ron was employed as an Industrial Painter and happened to paint at the Beehive Mall Bakery. The owner of the bakery, Jerry VanBeymen, offered Ron an apprenticeship as a Baker. Ron changed careers and from that time on became a baker. Jerry purchased the Dutch Oven and Ron was employed there. He enjoyed baking and took pride in his craft and was well known for his apple fritters. Ron later was employed with Five Flags, Cirilli’s, Reeves and Trig’s as a Baker. Ron worked sixteen-hour days and seven days a week. After retiring he decided to open his own donut shop on Brown Street called “The Donut Shop” which he owned for two and a half years. Unfortunately, some health concerns caused him to close the business.
Even though Ron worked long hours, during his spare time he and Janet raised and bred Paso Fino Horses. He also had a hobby farm raising goats, rabbits, ducks, pigs, a fawn and peacocks.
Ron and Janet worked with Inter Cambio, which is a Catholic Cultural Exchange Program. This led to their traveling to Mexico to chaperone one hundred and fifty children to the United States and Canada. This led to many friendships with one special friendship which turned into the couple having an unofficial adoption of a Mexican son and his family. Ron and Janet were also involved in “TEC”, Teens Encounter Christ for eight years assisting wherever they could.
Throughout his life, Ron enjoyed horseback riding. He also enjoyed fixing and collecting clocks.
He was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church.
He will be dearly missed by his loving wife Janet of fifty-two and a half years, a son from his first marriage to Sharon Anderson, Mark (Marjorie) Hilliard of Traverse City, Michigan, two sons from he and Janet’s marriage; Aaron (Connie) Appling of Rhinelander and Brion (DeAnn) Appling of Bloomington, Minnesota, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Also surviving are two brothers; Ray (Nancy) Appling of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Paul (Beverly) Appling of Yuma, Arizona, sister-in-law; Louise Appling of Downers Grove, Illinois and a brother-in-law; Don House of Pacheco, California. Ron is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother; Eldon Appling and by one sister; Carolyn House.
Ron’s family suggests that memorial contributions in his memory may be given to the charity of your choice.
The visitation for Ron will take place on Saturday morning, November 14, 2020 at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, located at 125 King Street, Rhinelander, with Fr. Chris Kemp officiating.
Craig R. Reineking
Rhinelander - Craig R. Reineking, 72, of Rhinelander, passed away August 18, 2020 at home after a long battle with COPD.
Craig was born in Wausau on May 4, 1948 to Robert and Margaret (Mohr) Reineking. He attended Wausau High School and the University of Wisconsin. He married his wife Barbara in 1970, and together had two sons; Bradly and Mark. Craig served in the Army National Guard from 1969 until 1973. He began his business career with Graebel Moving and Storage in December of 1969 as a Management Trainee in Wausau and held numerous management and executive positions with the Graebel Companies, living in various cities across America until retiring in 2017, ultimately moving to their summer home in northern Wisconsin.
Craig served on the Board of Directors and was a one-term President of the Marathon County Humane Society. One of his greatest passions was downhill skiing and he served on the National Ski Patrol for 30 years and was honored with their Outstanding Service award. He was co-founder of the Ski For Youth and he and his wife Barb were co-commissioners of the Badger State Winter Games. He was also a member of the Rib Mountain Ski Club and was their 2-term President. Craig was a member of the Wausaqua Water Ski Team, where he served as President for one term. He was also on the Board of the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the University of Wisconsin Marathon Campus Foundation until his death, serving 3 terms as President of the Foundation. Craig was honored by the UW Foundation with the Spirit of Excellence Award in 2017. In the summer, Craig could usually be found on his John Deere riding mower, making sure his lawn was perfectly manicured. His other passions were fishing and hunting with his sons and lifelong friends. In particular, the annual duck hunting trip to North Dakota with family and friends was greatly anticipated. Deer hunting in northern Wisconsin also created many fun memories for family and friends that will be cherished forever. In his later years, Craig enjoyed hunting and fishing with grandchildren and pulling them waterskiing. He will be greatly missed.
Craig is survived by his wife Barbara, their sons Brad (Nancy) of Fox River Grove, IL and Mark (Kathryn) of Cary, IL; and grandchildren Pierce, Gracie, Nicholas, Phoebe, Carter and Brooke. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Scott and Jeffrey.
Remembering our Squash Lake Friends - 2018
Sue Hausserman-Dugan, MD
Sue Ann (Hall) Hausserman-Dugan, age 72, passed away near San Diego, CA on July 15, 2018 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born February 12, 1946 in Omaha, NE to Roger W. and Dorothy (Whinnery) Hall. She had one brother, Roger. Sue’s mother and brother both died of Alzheimer’s as well. Sue is survived by her husband, Patrick, and her daughters, Christine and Jessica, who all reside in the San Diego area.
Sue received her MD from the University of Nebraska and initially practiced medicine while stationed in Germany as a major in the US Army. She completed her residency in radiology at the University of Wisconsin, and practiced medicine for about 40 years in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin and later in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
But medicine was only a part of her life. Sue was also a talented artist, painter, photographer, and designer. Her medical illustrations were published in a landmark textbook of radiology, and she remodeled several homes, including a mansion in Neenah, WI that was placed on the National and State Historic Registers.
Sue was an avid world traveler, as well as a lover of nature. Together with her husband, Pat, she donated several acres of shoreline property on Squash Lake near Rhinelander to ensure that it would remain in its natural state forever. She supported continuing education, and served on the board of directors of WXPR, the local public radio station in Rhinelander. She also loved animals, and there was always a dog by her side.
But most of all, Sue was a devoted and loving mother to her two girls, Christine and Jessica. More than anything else, her daughters gave her life meaning.
Sue’s sister-in-law, Teresa Dugan, describes her, among other things, as a “fashionista and overall Renaissance woman. She was lovely, kind, and quietly funny.”
As a final gift, mindful of her documented family history of Alzheimer’s disease, she donated her brain to Science to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s so that future generations (including her daughters) would not have to experience this terrible disease.
A memorial service will be held from 2-4 pm on Sunday August 19 at Coon’s Franklin Lodge, 3450 Highway 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI 54568. In lieu of flowers, we suggest that you consider a donation to Alzheimer’s San Diego. No gift is too small. Our team website is: https://alzsd.akaraisin.com/walk4alz2018/questforthecure
Remembering our Squash Lake Friends - 2017
Genevieve M. Paddock