Arlene T. Henrichs

Arlene Theresa Henrichs, 63, Athens, died peacefully following a 32-year fight with kidney disease, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, WI. Arlene was born on October 11, 1962, to Howard and Dorothy (née Literski) Murkowski. On October 16, 1982, she married Thomas D. Henrichs in Athens. After graduating with an associate’s degree from Northcentral Technical College, Arlene worked in the Graphics/Communications department at Marathon Electric, specializing in page layout and stripping, as well as working the switchboard. She began work at Color Vision Printing in 1992 and remained part of the family there until retiring in January from her position as Bindery Supervisor.

In her early years, she played volleyball in high school and was a good softball player for Kraft Lanes. After her diagnosis, Arlene lived a full life, not letting the disease slow her down. She was in a golf league for years and placed several times in the American Legion Annual Golf Tournament in Wausau. She enjoyed road-tripping with her husband to major league baseball games and national parks, playing bingo, gardening, cooking maple syrup, spending time with her grandkids, and organizing Easter egg hunts at her family’s syrup shack. Arlene also hosted the annual Hamburg Open Croquet Tournament at the A.T. & T. Country Club for over forty years.

Survivors include her husband Tom, Athens; three children: Kyle (Megan Gregory) Henrichs, St. Louis, MO, Eric (Monica) Henrichs, Denver, CO, and Michaela (Heath) Gaedtke, Ringle; four grandchildren: Howard Henrichs, Denver, and Genevieve, Gabrielle, and Larkin Gaedtke, Ringle; eight siblings: Mary (Bill) Koranda, New Berlin, Karen (Steve) Ostovich, Duluth, MN, Jerry (Linda) Murkowski, Mike Murkowski, Tom Murkowski, Myron (Cindy) Murkowski, all of Athens, Steve (Tina) Murkowski, Kiel, and Angie (Dean) Ellenbecker, Athens; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Dorothy; and her sister Rita.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects at a visitation to be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens, and again on Saturday, March 7, from 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church until the time of the service. A funeral Mass will be held in memory of Arlene at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. Rev. George Graham will preside. Private family burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.