Grace M. Manthei (Atwood, Oesterreicher, Kutchera)

Grace Marie Manthei (Atwood, Oesterreicher, Kutchera), 85, of Wausau, passed into glory on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

She was born on March 1, 1938 at her paternal grandparents’ house in Wausau to Karl and Hilma (Plautz) Manthei.  Grace attended local schools while growing up and graduated from Wausau High School with the class of 1956.  In 1969 Grace graduated as a lab assistant from Wausau Memorial Hospital.  For 30 years Grace worked as an administrative assistant at N.T.C. where she met many students over the years that became another part of her family.  She was an active member of Grace United Church of Christ in Wausau since 1945 and also of the Antique Study Club at the Marathon County Historical Society.

Grace’s legacy is the way she lived; beautiful, kind, and spiritual.  And like the trademark characteristics that are the women of our family, she was independent and tenacious.  She had a passion for music of all genres and shared her love with her children, grands, and great-grands, she truly lived in a musical.

There was no sitting on the fence for Grace, she was not afraid to pick a side or stand up for what was right even if it meant going all the way up the chain to the White House.

Grace did not come into lives lightly.  She loved so fiercely that it left you no choice but to do the same.  Often times her love was shared in the form of a card that was personalized just for you.  She held court on her porch, and enjoyed talking and laughing with friends, family, and the children in the neighborhood.

She was an avid collector of antiques and memories, always finding the delicate balance of living in the present while cherishing the past.  Grace will be missed by all those who knew and loved her, but it’s only for awhile that we must part, so bless the memories that lay within your heart.

Survivors include her daughter, Diana Helms; grandchildren, Shawn (Meagan) Tousignant and great-grandchildren, Zander, Sabastion, and Corbin; Tiffany (Todd) Rhea and great-grandchild, Tripp; Joshua (Heather) Cordell and great-grandchild, Tinley; and Kathryn Helms; daughter, Lisa (Ron) Bergeth; grandchildren, Nathanial (Rachael) Streich and great-grandchildren, Brianna, Jonathon, Rhyder, and Dominic; and Emily (Ivan) Aceves and great-grandchildren, Ariana, Xavier, and Santiago; siblings, Faye Henley, Alyce (Lou) Windhurst, Karla (David) Markowski, and Randy (Julie) Sawyer; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Grace has passed into glory to be met by all those she loved: grandparents, August (Lydia) Plautz and Dan (Marie) Robare; parents, Karl and Hilma Manthei; brother, Karl Manthei Jr.; step-father, Lou Sawyer; beloved son, Raymond Atwood; sons-in-law, James Streich and Michael Helms; and great-granddaughter, Lola Liberty Carter.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Grace United Church of Christ, 535 South Third Avenue, Wausau, with Rev. Wayne Drueck officiating.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.  Private family burial will take place in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.

“My bucket list is almost filled—one more journey to go.”  G.M.K.