Leo W. Michlig

Leo W. Michlig, 77, died Wednesday, June 25, 2014 under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at home surrounded by his family. He was born May 14, 1937 at home in town of Cassel, son of the late Frank and Della (Nowak) Michlig. On August 1, 1959 he married Janice Sonnentag at St. John Catholic Church, Edgar. Leo started working as a milk truck driver when he was just sixteen and later owned L&J Feed Mill in town of Halder until his retirement in 1996. He continued building pallets with a neighbor until he was seventy. Leo was a concertina player all his life and began playing public jobs with the Wisconsin Oilers when he was ten years old. He also played with the Town & Country Party Boys and many other tuba players and drummers in the area. The last fifteen years he spent playing public with the Green Valley Dutchmen and he continued playing for family parties in Wisconsin as well as neighborhood gatherings in Florida. He was also an active member of Sacred Heart Parish serving as an usher and member of the parish council. Some of Leo's other hobbies included gardening, which included canning 2000 jars in 2013, entertaining, listening to Polka music, visits to the casino and happy hour. He taught his grandchildren card games and enjoyed playing against them on their many visits. The last six years spent at Saddlebag Lake Resort in Florida during the winter months were special to Leo as he made many new friends and enjoyed the warm weather. Survivors include his wife, Janice Michlig; children, Leo Jr. (Brenda Pesavento) Michlig, Julie (Lorell) Landwehr, Gerard Michlig, Mark (Jody) Michlig and Paul (Diana) Michlig; grandchildren, Lucas (Brandi) Michlig, Logan (Danielle Gallant) Michlig, Tracie and Derek Landwehr, Trevor and Madisyn Michlig, Hannah, Autumn and Mitchell Michlig; great-grandchildren, Jaicee, Nola, Leia and Lucas Michlig Jr.; siblings, Frances (Norbert) Lang, Anthony (Rosalie) Michlig and Evelyn (Jerome) Schara; brothers-in-law, Julian (Gloria) Sonnentag, James (Mary) Sonnentag and Jerry (Colleen) Sonnentag; sisters-in-law, Jean (Thomas) Burke, Jacqueline Brusky and Jolyn (Terry) Miller; uncle, Michael Nowak and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Isis Michlig, niece, Rachel Burke, nephew, Marlin Sonnentag and brother-in-law, Gary Brusky. The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Rev. Jerome Patric will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon and again on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday at the Marathon funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com