Arthur E. “Art” Voelz, age 91, of Merrill, died Tuesday, October 8, 2013, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill.
Art was born July 23, 1922, in the Town of Scott, Lincoln County, son of the late August and Nathalie (Freitag) Voelz. He married Betty Ann Sense on May 31, 1947, in St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. She survives. Art and Betty owned and operated a dairy farm in the Town of Scott for 40 years. Art drove a milk truck from 1936 until 1960, and he owned the first forage harvester in Lincoln County and did custom work with it in surrounding townships filling 20-30 silos every year. Art delivered both the Wausau Daily Herald for 23 years and the Merrill Foto News for 30 years. He delivered Meals on Wheels and enjoyed doing many other volunteer tasks. Art was a former usher at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, and had also served on the Board of Finance. He was a former director at the North Central Water Shed, Consumers Co-op in Merrill, and the Pine River Farmers Dairy Co-op. Art was also a former member of the Lincoln County Holstein Association. In his leisure time, Art enjoyed playing cards and listening to and dancing to polka music.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Ann Voelz, Merrill; one daughter, Tia Hein, Shawano; three sons, Tom Voelz and Tim Voelz, both of Merrill, and Tod Voelz, California; five grandchildren, Jasmin, Craig, Travis, Hannah, and Gunnar; one sister in law, Mavis Voelz, Merrill; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Art is preceded in death by six siblings, Ellen Erickson, Mabel Hanson, Viola Dengel, Edna Baguhn, Alfred Voelz, and Wilbert Voelz.
The funeral will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 12, 2013, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Nathan Kramer will officiate. Burial will follow in Faith Church Cemetery North, Town of Maine, Marathon County. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 9:30 A.M. Saturday at the church.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com