Arlan and Shirley Erickson

Arlan G. and Shirley L. Erickson, town of Wausau, both passed away due to a tragic car accident on Friday, September 26, 2025.

Arlan was born on November 16, 1942, in Wausau, to the late Herbert and LaVerne (Nienow) Erickson. He graduated from Wausau High School in 1960 and immediately after finishing school he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard where he served as a medic. He was called to active duty during the Cold War and the Berlin Crisis. Arlan always enjoyed sharing stories of his time in the Guard with his children and grandchildren.

He loved farming, hunting, and snowmobiling. Together with Shirley they farmed for over 50 years. In the early years Arlan worked for Kraft Foods full-time while also farming. After working for 15 years at Kraft he decided to focus on farming full-time. He was always there to help a farmer or neighbor in need, whether it was lending out wagons or equipment, pulling a vehicle out of the ditch in winter, or plowing a neighbor’s yard. You could always count on Arlan for help.

Arlan took great pleasure in hunting on the family property and spent many hours taking his four-wheeler out to check on the deer cameras, always looking for the BIG ONE! In his younger years he enjoyed hunting at his family’s deer camp, Porcupine Ridge, with his father, Aunt Ruth Erickson, Uncle Ralph Erickson, and other family members.

When things slowed down in the winter Arlan loved to snowmobile! He was one of the first people in the area to buy a snowmobile and along with Shirley were co-founders of the Glandon Snow Barons Snowmobile Club in 1970. He was elected the first club president on October 24, 1970, and remained actively involved for decades. Once morning chores were done Arlan would take the kids snowmobiling for the day. Much time was spent together as a family on the trails and on Poker Runs as well. One special memory was snowmobiling in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Shirley was born on March 15, 1944, in Wausau, to the late Raymond and Viola (Saeger) Zastrow. She graduated from Wausau High School in 1962. She and Arlan were united in marriage on July 31, 1965, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Shirley was passionate about being involved in the community. She served as president of the Hewitt-Texas Elementary School PTO and Mother’s Club for over 20 years each. In addition, she was a co-founder of the Glandon Snow Barons Snowmobile Club with Arlan in 1970. She was elected for the first time as secretary/treasurer in 1972 and remained secretary or treasurer for over 30 years. She was always involved in club events, and would arrive with several pans of bars, as she loved to bake. She took great pleasure in sharing her chocolate chip cookies, apple pies, and blondies with family and friends. Another community organization she was involved with for over 40 years was the Homemakers Club. As a part of the Club, she enjoyed learning and being involved in the community and with other clubs as well.

Shirley helped Arlan on the farm but also worked different jobs over the years. She worked at First American Bank, the Wausau School District Food Service, and for the last 24 years at Cardiovascular Associates. Shirley never considered retirement because she loved both her job and patients at CVA, and from what we heard, the feelings were mutual. She delighted in being a friendly face at the front desk and enjoyed helping the patients.

Our parents will be remembered for their love of family. They were so proud of their children and grandchildren. You could always count on our mother and father to be at events from hunting, sports, and dance recitals. They would help their children whenever they needed anything and cherished family time together. As they got older, they enjoyed playing games and telling stories with us or would sit back to watch us dance at a family wedding.

We will never forget the values our parents have instilled in all of us kids: hard work, kindness, doing the right thing, and most importantly, family.

Survivors include their children, Wendy (Tom) Kreimer of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, Rhonda Erickson (JR Gaulke) of Kronenwetter, Chad (Kelly) Erickson of Edgar, and Gina (Paul) Krueger of Wausau; grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Kreimer, MaKayla Kielman, Colton (Morgan) Kielman, Ashley and Preston Erickson, and Isabelle and Emerson Krueger; Arlan’s sister, Carlyn Puchalski of Sauk Village, Illinois; and Shirley’s sister, Janet Hohn of Wausau.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at First English Lutheran Church, 402 North Third Avenue, Wausau, with Rev. Mary Zupansic officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10 at the church and continue on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Private family burial will take place at a later date in Mechanics Ridge Cemetery, town of Wausau. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.

Mom and Dad – we will love you forever.