Julie A. Kroeger

Julie Ann (Pfaff) Kroeger, 78, of Wausau passed away Monday January 12th, 2026 at Wood Aven Health and Rehabilitation. She was under the care of Aspirus Hospice Services.

Julie was born October 6th, 1947, in La Crosse, WI to the late Kermit and Sylvia (Harper) Pfaff. She grew up on the family farm, and then moved into the city of Sparta, WI in 1962, Julie attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in Daneville, WI. She then attended Sparta High School, graduating in 1965. While there, she met her future husband, Wayne Kroeger. Julie attended college at UW-La Crosse in 1965, 1967, 1969 and graduated in 1970 with a teaching degree. She also attended Oregon State University in 1968; she and Wayne lived in Corvallis, Oregon 1968-1969, while Wayne was in the Air Force.

Julie began her teaching career in 1970, at Sparta Junior High School, where she taught social studies to 8th and 9th graders. When Wayne took a job that brought them to Wausau, Julie worked as a library aide at the D.C. Everest Junior High School. She went on to be a substitute teacher at this location, as well as in the Wausau School District, In 1981, Julie began teaching 4th Grade at St. Anne Catholic School. In 1987, she settled into teaching English and social studies to the 7th and 8th graders at St. Matthew Middle School.

Julie left teaching for a short time. She did retail work at Sears and JC Penney in the former Wausau Center Mall. Julie returned to teaching in 1996, when she began working at NTC. She worked in the ESL program, the GOAL Lab, and the Alternative High School. Rounding out Julie’s employment was doing magazine replacement in grocery stores from 2005-2008.

Julie and Wayne were married May 4, 1968 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sparta, WI. They had two sons, Bryan Scott in 1973 and Daniel Mark in 1976. Wayne preceded her in death on January 20th, 2024.

Julie was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She enjoyed teaching, reading, traveling, and listening to music. Her greatest joy was her family, who will greatly miss her.

Survivors include sons Bryan, Wausau, Wisconsin, and Dan (Jen), Wausau, Wisconsin; two granddaughters, Hannah and Chloe, Wausau, Wisconsin; four sister-in-laws, Kathy Pfaff McVicker, Sheldon, Wisconsin; Caroline Wagner, Middleton, Wisconsin; Donna Kroeger, Janesville, Wisconsin; and Diane June, Sparta, Wisconsin; one brother-in-law John (Renata) Kroeger, San Jose, California; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Julie was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; parents Kermit and Sylvia (Harper) Pfaff; brother, Mark Pfaff; four brothers-in-law, Conrad Kroeger, Eugene Kroeger, Tom Dwyer and David Wagner; one sister-in-law, Lorraine Dwyer; one nephew, Matthew Kroeger; and one niece, Kara Pfaff.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday January 24th, 2026 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. Visitation will take place that morning from 9:00am until the time of the service. Burial will take place at St. Michael Cemetery following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be made at petersonkraemer.com.