Marlen C. Burish

Marlen C. Burish, 85, town of Marathon, died Thursday April 11, 2013 at his home, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services with his family at his side. He was born April 5, 1928, the fourth of 17 children to Edward and Leora Burish in Francis Creek. The family moved to the Marathon area in 1934, when Marlen was five years old. His father owned and operated a cheese factory that Marlen and his brothers helped operate. He attended St. Mary Catholic School in Marathon City completing eight grades. As a teen he worked for many neighbors on their farms. A veteran of the US Army, Marlen served two years in Germany. On August 6, 1956, he married Theresa Schwabe. Marlen and Theresa farmed in the town of Rib Falls until the time of his retirement in 1990. Theresa preceded him in death December 9, 1998. On December 5, 2004 he married Dawn Mae (Braunel) Erdman and moved to the town of Marathon. She survives. Marlen's passion was his workshop. He built many birdhouses, windmills, bookshelves, wishing wells and any project his family and friends wanted. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards and visiting with family. His favorite saying was "Don't rush me". Survivors include his wife, Dawn Mae, his children, Cindy (Scott) Holmes, Wausau, Chris (Jay) Hoppenworth, Edgar, Brian (Julie) Burish, Edgar, Bill (Dawn) Burish, Marathon, Keith (Rhonda) Burish, Wausau, 12 grandchildren, Jenna (Tyrone) Luedtke, & Kevin Holmes, Shannon (Mike) Matonich, Jordan and Cassidy Hoppenworth, Amber Burish, Autumn (DJ) Tesch, Arielle Burish and Joshua Burish; Jalyn and Sawyer Burish, Logan and Madison Burish, six step children, LaVern Erdman, Wausau, Peggy (Henry) Baumann, Marathon, Aaron (Margie) Erdman, Durant, Iowa, Alan (Lisa) Erdman, Wittenberg, Glen Erdman, Wausau, Nelson (Freda) Erdman, Germantown, 18 step grandchildren and 14 step great grandchildren, nine brothers, John (Susie), James (Lillian), Elton (Joyce) and Kenneth (Louanne) all of Marathon, Edward (Mary Jane) and Norbert (Barbara) all of Wausau, Rueben of Two Rivers, Thomas (Kathy) of Irma and Michael of Milwaukee, two sisters, Janet (Clarence) Skrzypchak, Illinois and Shirley Reid, Arkansas, three sisters-in-law, Shirley Burish, Indiana, JoAnn Schwabe, Illinois and Alvina Strachota, Stratford; one brother-in-law, Joe (Mary) Schwabe, Stratford; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and wife, Theresa, he was preceded in death by a son, Richard, two brothers, Tony and Eugene, three sisters, Beatrice Wadzinski, Sister (Lavern) Beatrice Burish and infant Margaret Burish. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Monday April 15, 2013 at St. John Catholic Church, Edgar. Rev. Robert Streveler will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery where full military honors will be conducted by the Edgar American Legion and VFW. Friends may call on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at St. John Catholic Church, Edgar. There will be a parish rosary at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. Visitation will continue on Monday from 10:00 a.m.until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com