Lana M. Markey

Lana M. Markey, age 78, of Wausau, passed on unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She had recently been given a terminal leukemia diagnosis and felt incredibly blessed to be able to spend her remaining time surrounded by all that she loved in life.

Lana was born August 7, 1948, in Owen, Wisconsin, to the late Loren Hoss and Mary (Winston) Wagner. She married the love of her life, Edmund (Larry) Lawrence Markey Jr., on June 8, 1974, in Madison, Wisconsin. Together, they shared 52 wonderful years of marriage, building a life centered around love, family, and their deep commitment to one another.

A devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother, Lana was truly the heart of the family. She and Larry built a family grounded in the values they lived every day - hard work, loyalty, commitment, kindness, and always putting family first. They shared an incredible bond of friendship and love. They taught their children not only through their words and actions, but also through the example of the life they built together.

Lana had a remarkable ability to connect with people. She could talk to anyone she met about almost anything, and she had a genuine interest in their lives and their stories. She truly listened and remembered what mattered to people. She had a way of looking after people, offering encouragement, advice, a listening ear, or simply making sure they were okay. Whether she had known someone for years or had just met them, Lana made people feel welcome, valued, and cared for. That warmth was one of the many things that made her so special.

Lana had an incredible energy and a classy, creative flair, and she had a gift for turning ordinary moments into something magical. She poured that energy into her home, paying attention to the simple details that became cherished childhood memories for her children.

Her home and farm were filled with a menagerie of animals over the years, but her greatest passion was her beloved Friesian horses. "They're in my blood," she would often say. What began as a horse for Megan started a journey that would become one of their greatest joys together. Lana was a dedicated horse breeder and the owner and operator of North Ster Friesians, LLC. She devoted much of her life to the breed, taking great pride in selective breeding and continual improvement. More than 130 foals were born on her farm over the years, and she took great joy in raising and showing horses that went on to earn high honors. Her success and dedication to Friesian horses earned her a place in the Friesian Horse Association of North America Hall of Fame.

She and Larry also shared a love of travel and seeing the world together. They especially cherished their time living overseas in Incirlik, Turkey, at the start of their marriage and the many experiences they had together. For their 50th wedding anniversary, Lana and Larry celebrated by taking their family on an Alaskan cruise. It was a wonderful trip filled with memories that meant so much to all of them, and one they had hoped to experience together again.

Lana loved life and had an extraordinary ability to find beauty and joy in the world around her. She loved nature, especially pine trees, sunrises, full moons, clouds, and the simple pleasures of being outside. Even through difficult times, she remained hopeful and positive. She was strong in her faith and convictions, competitive and determined when she set her mind to something, yet always thoughtful of the people around her.

Lana is survived by her loving husband, Larry Markey; children, Ned (Molly) Markey, Megan Markey, Matt Markey, and Elizabeth (Kavi) Chawla; grandchildren, Lilly, Claire, Brynn, Elm, Aya, and Rohan; siblings, Bruce (Linda) Hoss, Debbie Reinicke, and Tom (Beth) Hoss.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Beth (Chuck) Lackey; and brother-in-law, Tom Reinicke.

Lana's absence leaves an enormous hole in the family she loved so dearly. But her love will continue in all of us in the way we care for our families, work hard for what we believe in, remain hopeful through difficult times, and find beauty in the world around us.

She was the heart of our family, and she will be loved and missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

The memorial service will be at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at The Round Barn at Willow Springs, 6905 North 60th Avenue, Wausau, with Steve Clements officiating. Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. until the time of services on Friday at The Round Barn.

In lieu of flowers, Lana wished for donations to North Ster Friesians to help Megan carry on her legacy and continue her dedication to the Friesian breed.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.