Dianne Marie (Knaack) Stichmann

Dianne Marie Stichmann, 79, Wausau, formerly of Phillips passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023, while under the care of Marshfield Hospital-Weston Comfort Care and Assisted Living Services at Mountain Terrace, Wausau.

She was born May 4, 1943, in Chicago, daughter of the late William and Claraine (Burgholzer) Knaack.  Dianne married Stan Stichmann in Hayward on July 7, 1977, deceased April 2022.  Prior to that she was married to Bob Bembenek Sr. and Roger Loomis.  She had two children with Bob, but later divorced, Roger also preceded her in death.  Bob Sr. of Cedar Rapids, IA survives.  Dianne graduated from Oak Creek High School, Oak Creek WI, 1961.

Dianne last worked at the U.S. Forest Service office in Hayward.  Prior career positions included secretarial work with UW Extension and Valley Health Care, Hayward.  She also worked with Shell Oil Company, Kearney & Trecker and Wisconsin Telephone in Milwaukee.

Some of her favorite hobbies included sewing, she was known for her cooking, including many delicious family meals and those awesome oatmeal cookies!  She enjoyed traveling with many trips to Florida as well as an African Safari, a Bahamas ocean cruise and train trip to Arizona.  She loved to share stories about her excursions with family and friends and got really good at grandma hugs.  In her later years she helped Stan during his final years with his health care.  Dianne and Stan enjoyed spending time with their family whenever possible and many family gatherings were her favorite times.

Survivors include her children, Bob Bembenek Jr., West Allis, Steve (Dawn) Bembenek, Clear Lake, and their siblings of Stan’s children with his first wife Sylvia Betka, Tomahawk.  They are David (Sharon Otto) Stichmann, Merrill, Dale Stichmann, Tomahawk, Debra Stichmann, Rhinelander, Dawn (Gene) Horwath, Tomahawk, 11 grandchildren, three sisters, Susanne (Ken) Simpson, Phillips, Claraine Hermersmann, Lena, WI, Pam Nygaard, Gladstone, MI, and brother Bill (Pat) Knaack, Phillips, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau.   Visitation will be held on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services all at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.  Final resting will be Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in Highland Memorial Park, New Berlin. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com