Dawn Harrod

Dawn Harrod, age 85, Wausau, passed away on February 23, 2025, under the care of Wood Aven Living Community and Aspirus Hospice, surrounded by family.

Dawn was born in Athens, WI to Matthew Hoff and Virginia Boehm. She married Harl Harrod of Merrill, WI on October 24th, 1959, in Schofield, WI. They lived in Wausau.

After graduating from Wausau Senior High School, Dawn trained as a beautician and managed the Swirl & Curl Beauty Salon. With marriage and starting a family, Dawn focused on being a mother and homemaker. She cheerfully gave her time and talents to all the events her children signed her up for including candle making for Strassenfest at Zion Lutheran, creating costumes, baking, and chaperoning class trips. She also enjoyed working from home for Robert Payne Photography, coloring black and white photographs by hand with nothing more than a few notes from the portrait owner about clothing colors and backgrounds to guide her (her favorite challenge was military uniforms and she painstakingly captured every small detail in the buttons and medals. Hundreds of these photographs are still displayed today around central Wisconsin.

Once the kids were in school, Dawn worked as a beautician and activity coordinator at Colonial Manor Nursing Home. In 1973 Dawn embraced the role of household bread-winner after her husband, Harl, experienced a major health crisis that left him unable to work. Thankfully, she loved working with the residents and staff at Colonial Manor, which made the long hours more bearable. One of the activities Dawn spearheaded at Colonial Manor was painting ceramics. She loved helping residents of all ability levels create their masterpieces. They took great pride in their work displayed in the showcase and the activities department was able to fund this program and many others through the sale of the finished pieces.

Later in her working career, Dawn ventured into being a small business owner and property manager. She opened her Custom Clothing shop in Rib Mountain offering alterations and new creations, including wedding dresses and formal wear.

When Wausau Hospitals North and South were converted to independent living accommodations, it was Dawn who ran the offices, acted as rental agent and bookkeeper, and oversaw the maintenance of the properties. She did her best to ensure that the tenants were happy in their new home and worked hard to create a sense of community.

She had a passion for direct sales, working with Mary Kay, Nutrition For Life, and Vitamark. She loved meeting new people, and clients and customers quickly became close friends.

Her work with these companies also provided Dawn and Harl with the opportunity to travel. They particularly enjoyed cruises and escaping Wisconsin winters with fishing trips to the Lake of the Ozarks until Harl's passing in 2004.

When she wasn't working, you could find her and Harl in Minocqua, fishing, enjoying the company of their many friends, or just catching up on hours of lost sleep without the usual interruptions.

Dawn donated her time, talents, and resources to Christ Lutheran Church as well as the Share Program of Central Wisconsin.

Dawn loved sharing her passions for baking and gardening with her granddaughters Lauren and Lydia. She was a natural teacher who made learning fun.

Animals were a big part of Dawn's life and she always had at least one pet. Her absolute bestie was her dog Ripley, who even made an appearance in the Christ Lutheran Church Directory alongside Dawn, after the passing of her husband. He was her constant companion.

She was the first to offer to foster animals, which was how she ended up with a kitty or two and at one point, three. Her former cats, Hank and Sheba, now reside with Dawn's sister Bonnie-the only person Dawn would trust with her kitty-kids.

Dawn has been a resident of Benedictine (Wood Aven) Living Community for the past 10 years. She and her roommate moved in on the same day and were together until the last couple weeks of her life.

She made many good friends at Benedictine and loved the staff who served her with the utmost care.

Survivors include her children; John Harrod (Becky) Weston, WI, Joan Harrod (Dr. Mark Smith) Walla Walla, WA.; two grandchildren Lauren Harrod-Wampfler (Mark) and Lydia Harrod (Ian Scott); brother Dale Hoff and sister Bonnie Guillaume; sister-in-law Patricia Harrod.

She was preceeded in death by both her parents, her husband Harl, her brother-in-law Joseph Guillaume, brother-in-law James Harrod, and good friend and companion George Vondrasek.

Services for Dawn Harrod will be held on March 11th, 2025, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St., Wausau, WI., with visitation from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and Memorial Service to follow with Pastor Dennis Romine officiating.