Virginia "Pete" M. Siewert

Virginia “Pete” M. Siewert, 93, of Wausau, died Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Oak Park Senior Living, Stillwater, Minnesota.

She was born June 29, 1929 in Wausau, daughter of the late Wallace and Martha (Pepowski) Petrowski.  On September 17, 1949 she married Leslie “Les” Siewert at the Church of Holy Name of Jesus, Wausau.

Pete always had a knack for working with money.  When she was in high school, her first job was working at the ticket window at the Grand Theater.  From there, she went onto counting money at the Wausau Brewery from the delivery truck drivers and then did the same at Pepsi bottling.  She started part-time at Drott Manufacturing while raising three sons.  When her sons were older, she went full-time; and that plus a lot of hard work, earned her the title of Credit Manager for the Western Region of the US and Canada.  Some of her volunteer work after retirement included counting church collection money, working lunches at church funerals, and a hospice volunteer.  Her hobbies included canning kraut and pickles, running the football pool, and helping Les shovel snow as part of his snow removal business. She loved to cook and would whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies or O’Henry bars when someone mentioned they had a craving.  Her caramel rolls from her sour-dough starter “Herman” are legendary.  She loved spending family time at the cottage on the Manitowish Waters chain which was built by her father.  For nearly three decades, the Siewert home hosted son Jim and numerous friends who competed in the annual Wausau Triathlon.

When she and Les visited their sons and families, they worked on countless projects.  Lists were made and items crossed off during their frequent visits.  They also enjoyed watching their grandsons play hockey.  She and Les were regulars on the beer thirty circuit as they needed to get out of the house every day and TALK to other people.  Pete and Les were charter members of St. Mathew Catholic Church, Wausau.

Survivors include sons Roger Siewert, Wausau, and Jim (Shelly) Siewert, Stillwater, MN; daughter-in-law Peggy Siewert, Hartland WI; grandsons John (Kylie) Siewert, Wales, WI, and Elliott Siewert, Hartland WI; great- granddaughters Natalie and Everly Siewert; sister Carol Marcell, Kingsburg, CA.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Les, son Charlie, siblings Norm and Ron.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau.  The Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk will preside.  Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.  Friends may call on Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to either your local hospice care service or to Lakeview Hospice.  (Lakeview Health Foundation, 927 Churchill Street West, Stillwater, MN 55082  In memory of Virginia “Pete” Siewert)