Theresa Mesenberg

Theresa Mesenberg went home to our Lord on Friday December 23, 2016. She lived a very fulfilled 91 years, and as her family we are so grateful for all of the time we were given with her. Theresa was born on July 20, 1925 to John and Anna (Nightengale) Engman. She grew up in a family with 8 siblings, 5 bothers and 3 sisters. They lived in the town of Mosinee where she went all through school and graduated from Mosinee High in 1943. Theresa worked various jobs after high school, one for a retailer in Milwaukee, and another took her to Chicago where she worked as a nanny. Fate eventually brought her back to Wausau, where in June of 1945 on a night out with some friends at the Glass Hat Bar, she met a dashing young sailor named Bill Mesenberg. Bill was on shore leave with the Navy at the time, and the rest as they say, is history. Their courtship was brief, but when you meet your soulmate there is nothing else to know, except that you were meant to be together. They were married a couple of weeks later on June 16th at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Wausau, only days before Bill had to return to his ship and head out to fight many courageous battles during WWII. When the war ended, Bill returned home to his beautiful blushing bride, and the two of them proceeded to start their family right away. Throughout the next few decades they raised nine children together. Theresa was always busy and worked tirelessly, as you can imagine with nine children! She was known for her infamous Sunday dinners. Not only did she make them for her own children, but many of their friends would join in as well, since the word was out about how fabulous her home cooking was. The house was always full of the smell of great food, and the sounds of laughter throughout. As the years passed and her children were growing up, Theresa took on various jobs throughout the Wausau area. She worked many years at Marathon Battery Company, and in later years worked cleaning several restaurants. In her retirement years Theresa enjoyed spending time at the casinos. She and Bill met many great friends while taking the bus rides to and from the casinos. She also thoroughly loved spending time with her children and grandchildren playing cards or board games of any kind. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Bill, one son Daniel Mesenberg, and one granddaughter Kristie Meyer. Also preceding her are her 5 brothers, Tony (Gertie) Engman, Joe (Velda) Engman, Hank (Linda) Engman, Eddie (Arletta) Engman, Richard (Joanne) Engman, and her 3 sisters, Mary (Melvin) Keding, Ella (Antone) Younger, and Rita (Maurice) Fountaine. Survivors include her eight children, Gary (Linda) Mesenberg, Tomahawk, WI., Kenneth (Linda) Mesenberg, Mosinee, WI., Suzette (Gary) Meyer, Wausau, WI., Allan Mesenberg, Wisconsin Rapids, WI., Rhonda Mesenberg, Wausau, WI., Diane (Tom) Krivoshein, Kronenwetter, WI., Brian (Jennifer Kalmer) Mesenberg, Lufkin, Texas, and Lisa (Todd) Domke, Hancock, WI. Her life was filled with the love of her 9 children, 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2017 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. The Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be Friday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the Sixth Street funeral home. While we are celebrating the life and greatly mourning the loss of this wonderful woman, others are rejoicing to meet her in Heaven. With gracious hearts we thank all of the wonderful staff at the North Central Health Care Garden Side Crossings for caring for our mom for the last 6 months and making her a part of their family too. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com