Vernetta Klinger

Vernetta Dorothy "Mitzie" Klinger, 89, passed away on Friday, August 23, 2013, at Care Partners, Weston. She was born on August 31, 1923, to Oscar and Esther (Voight) Jahnke. She was united in marriage on November 25, 1940, to Melvin E. Klinger. Vernetta worked at Larson Cleaners of Wausau, Tiny Tot in Merrill, and retired in 1990 after 20 years at Marathon Cheese. She and her husband, Melvin also were operators of Klinger's Red Granite Bar in Town of Maine and later Klinger's Bar in Marathon City. After her retirement she and Melvin moved to Birch Lake in Harshaw. They enjoyed playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for many years; delighting many children (and adults) at Christmas time. Vernetta loved "Old Time Music" and dancing, playing cards, spending time with her family and friends. Vernetta and Melvin were members of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harshaw.
She is survived by two sons, James (Jeanne), their children, Jeffrey Klinger and Julie (Mike) La Vake; and Jerry, his children, Lori Ann (Mike) Jennejohn, Shari (Dave) Berna, and Lisa (Kelly) Bryan; great-grandchildren, Heather (Andy) and Joshua (Liz) Jennejohn, James and Veronica La Vake, and Mitchell Bryan; great-great-grandsons, Brent Jennejohn and Austin Rindfleisch; three sisters, Virginia Schuster, Mary Jane Fox, and Carol Rawlings; brother-in-law, Harold (Joyce) Steinagel; sister-in-law, Delma Jahnke; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin; parents, Oscar and Esther (Voigt) Jahnke; and step-mother, Esther (Zunker) Jahnke; brothers, Mynard and Lenly Jahnke; sisters, Mildred Rusch, Florence Steinagel, and Reynale Steinagel; brothers-in-law, Fred Rusch, Willie Schuster, Le Roy Fox, Gilbert Steinagel, and Lester Rawlings; and sister-in-law, Norma Jahnke.
A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 26, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau, with Rev. Hans-Juergen Heisinger of Faith Lutheran Church of Harshaw and Rev. Gary Schultz of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Family and friends may call at Helke Funeral Home on Sunday, August 25, beginning at 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and again on Monday beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery, Marathon City.
Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Klinger, Mike Jennejohn, David Berna, Kelly Bryan, Mike LaVake, Joshua Jennejohn, James LaVake, Mitchell Bryan, Andy Rindfleisch, and Charlotte Windorski.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
The family would like to thank the staff of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services and the staff at Care Partners for the extra love and care provided to Mitzie. Thank you to dear friends, Eleanor Gould, Fred McCutchen, and nephew, Keith "Whitey" Steinagel for the special time spent with her. Special thanks to Dan Gruetzmacher for the last serenade of her favorite songs.