Arlene M. Hannemann

Arlene Marie (Hall) Hannemann, of Wausau, passed away peacefully at her home with family, at the age of 101, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. She was born on September 18, 1923 in Marathon, Wisconsin to the late Julius and Hattie (Jagodzinski) Hall. On June 18, 1946, she married Walter Hannemann at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon. Arlene joined Walter in Edgar where they owned and operated the family dairy farm while raising nine children. Also, during this time, Arlene was an active member of St. John Catholic Church, St. Rose Group, and a leader in the Wien Wildcats 4-H Club.

After retiring, Arlene and her husband, Walter moved to Wausau in 1982 and became active members of St. Anne Catholic Church. Arlene joined the choir and Circle of Joy.  In their retirement years, they loved visiting their children and grandchildren, celebrating birthdays with their friends, and traveling in the US and abroad. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage full of hard work, laughter, and love, prior to Walter’s passing in 2011. At that time St. Anne Grief Share was a wonderful comfort to Arlene. She stayed on for many years helping others overcome their grief.

Arlene was a loving, kind, graceful woman of deep faith. She had an incredible quick wit that made you laugh or toe the line, a keen mind with a large vocabulary, and a love of reading and crossword puzzles. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy. She had a gentle heart filled with love.  Throughout her life she enjoyed music, singing/dancing, flowers, birds, gardening, Sheepshead, Lawrence Welk, and Ann Landers. Arlene prayed daily, deeply. “Heart of Jesus I trust in you.” Most years of her life, she regularly attended Mass and prayed the Rosary.  Arlene loved life. She lived with a deep spiritual strength and grace everyday. She expressed gratitude easily with a smile and a resilience that inspired everyone that knew and loved her.

For the last six years, her children cared for her. She loved reconnecting with them as adults. In her words, “I am the luckiest woman in the world.” We, as her children, felt blessed and enriched to have her as our mother. Our mother was our joy and will be missed deeply.

Survivors include her youngest sister, Diane Fitzke; children, Marilyn (David) Juillerat, Gary Hannemann, Jane Hannemann, James (Rhonda) Hannemann, Les (Mary) Hannemann, Gail (Michael) Doering, David (Christene) Hannemann, Kathryn Hannemann, and Tracy Hannemann; 13 grandchildren, Kate, Thomas & Matt (Danica) Juillerat, Evan (Stephanie) & Austin (Emily) Hannemann, Leslie (Charles) Devous & Christine (Max) Massie, Hannah & Aidan Doering, Jacob (Darian), William (fiancée, Melissa), Lucas (Martina), and Adam (fiancée, Madalyn) Hannemann; and 17 great-grandchildren, Hudson, Patrick, Mason, Mia, Maverick, Kaiden, Kinley, Nevaeh, Waylon, Jess, Millie, Rue, Eliska (deceased), Kase, Briggs, Gavin, and Hadlee.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers, Harold, Aloys, and Ralph Hall; and sisters, Gladys Schuh and Phyllis Blume.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 700 West Bridge Street, Wausau, with Father Tom Lindner presiding.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service, all at the church.  Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery, Edgar.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.

Any memorial donations will be given to Arlene’s favorite charities, Wausau Area Mobile Meals and St. Anne Parish and School.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to so many, especially the wonderful doctors and nurses at Marshfield Clinic & Aspirus, Wausau Area Mobile Meals, Father Tom Lindner, Father Steven Brice, Chris, Virginia, the Butalla family, Julie and neighbor Warren T.