Faye Ann Semling, 91, of Merrill, WI, went to the Lord peacefully at her home on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Faye was born on December 6, 1930, in Shawano, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of the late Joseph (Joe) and Edna (Pete) Rutte. She graduated from Shawano High School in 1948. She attended secretarial school at the Milwaukee Business Institute in 1950. She met the love of her life John P. (Jack) Semling while they were attending school in Milwaukee. They were married on September 2, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Leopolis, WI. They were blessed with 57 wonderful years together. Faye selflessly devoted her life to her seven children and fully supported Jack in his commitment as a business owner. They were a team and when he needed to devote more time to work or travel, she stepped up and covered the responsibilities of caring for the family. She took great pride in cooking homemade meals and Jack often commented that his favorite meals were the ones cooked by her. It was important to Faye to carry on the family traditions that she and Jack had started. She enjoyed family time, especially the treasured memories at the cottages and the condo on Ft Myers Beach with her children and grandchildren. Holidays were always a special time with family – Thanksgiving Feasts, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, as well as summer cookouts at the cottage. She looked forward each year to a great birthday celebration with the entire extended family! Faye enjoyed following the athletic and school activities of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching the UWSP Pointers, Packers, Bucks, and Badgers. Faye had a deep love and compassion for animals, especially her cats. She believed strongly in supporting programs that helped give animals a better life. We will gratefully remember our mom for living her life with perseverance, positivity, and strength which we will carry on in her honor. She will be deeply missed! Faye was a volunteer with the Good Samaritan Ladies Auxiliary. She volunteered in the Hospital Gift Shop, and she loved to prepare holiday treats for the Holly Tea and St. Francis Christmas Bazaars. Faye was an active member with the Home and School Association and the Ladies Altar Society at St. Francis Xavier Church and School.
Faye is survived by her children, Michael (Merrill) daughter-in-law, Sharon, Wausau, Linda Semling Peterson (Merrill), Robert (Kathy) Plover, Patrick (Merrill), Susan (Dean) Zimmerman, DePere, Julie (Jim) Mootz, Merrill. She is further survived by her 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, cousins, and many nieces and nephews. Faye was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jack, her son, Richard, her brother, Duane Rutte, her sisters-in-law Rosemary Rutte, Marion Lillicrist, June Semling, Virginia (Ginny) Reynolds, and Marie Malm, and her brothers-in-law, James Harding, Donald Semling, Noke Lillicrist, Alan Malm, and John “Red” Reynolds.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers and plants, memorials be sent to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, St. Vincent DePaul, Bell Tower Residence, and the Lincoln County Humane Society. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. Father Maria, Father Dave Van Massenhove, and Deacon Jim Arndt will preside. Burial will take place at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Merrill. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Monday, November 28 at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com