Louise Rose Fox, 59, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on June 29, 1964 to the late Elroy and Emily (Oknewski) Pfingsten in Merrill, WI. Louise attended and graduated from Merrill High School and went on to earn her accounting degree from Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. She met the love of her life, Brian Fox, and the two were united in marriage on June 13, 1987 in Merrill, WI. He survives.
Louise most recently worked for the Lincoln County Landfill as an administrative assistant for many years. Before that, she worked for Rick Graap at Graap Logging as the bookkeeper. Louise was proud to have gotten her motorcycle license this summer and did a lot of riding, she was very proud to have accomplished that. She also looked forward to camping in Door County and kayaking the rivers around Merrill. Every morning she would walk her beloved dogs and enjoyed working with her horses. She was a previous member of the Underdown Horse Club. Louise was a loving, hardworking and adventurous woman. Her family also remembers her as being fierce, outgoing, dedicated and very social. She had the title of the “family picture taker” as she loved to take pictures to preserve those meaningful family times. Louise was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Merrill. She will be sadly missed, but always in the hearts and minds of her family and friends.
Louise leaves behind her husband: Brian Fox, daughter: Rosalie Fox, son: Zach Fox, brother: Kevin (Dawn) Pfingsten and sister: Marianne Vonderheid, all of Merrill. She is further survived by her sister-in-law: Cynthia (James) Fox – Malone of Oregon, brother-in-law: Jeff (Alice) Fox of Kentucky, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her dogs, her 4-legged fur babies: Foxxy, Lucy and Isla. She is preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws and her brother-in-law: Larry Vonderheid.
The Funeral Liturgy for Louise will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 11:00am at Waid Funeral Home. Deacon Jim Arndt will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, from 9:00am until the time of the liturgy, also at the funeral home. Inurnment at Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery will take place at a later date, and will also be recorded and available for viewing under her obituary on the funeral home website.
Because of her love of animals, especially her beloved dogs, family requests donations be directed to the Lincoln County Humane Society.
Family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and staff at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital Cancer Center and the Oncology Unit for their care and professionalism shown towards Louise and her family.
Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.