Wayne Walter Hollatz, age 73, of Stratford, WI, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, February 26, 2021, at the Marshfield Medical Center CCU.
Wayne was born on March 20, 1947, in Marshfield, WI to Walter and Lorraine (Olson) Hollatz. He was the oldest of seven children and was raised on a farm east of Rozellville, WI. He attended McKinley Elementary School near their family farm and graduated in 1965 from Marshfield Senior High. Wayne registered to serve in the United States Army as a senior in high school. He served in the US Army in the First Infantry Artillery division as a Surveyor/Forward Observer in Korea from 1966-1967. Wayne received the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged in 1968.
Upon returning home he helped his family on their farm and hauled milk for a local cheese factory. In 1969, he worked a road construction job and met his future wife Paulette (Penny) Shedivy. Wayne and Penny were united in marriage on November 14, 1970 at the Holy Redeemer Church in Two Rivers, WI. They shared 34 years in marriage.
After his time in road construction, he began working for Louis Kraus, installing residential furnaces in the Wausau area. He later joined the Sheet Metal Workers Union on October 1, 1972 with Mid-State Contractors. During his employment with them, he began the four-year State Apprenticeship program. In 1984, he started working for Mechanical Inc. in Tomahawk, WI where he dedicated his time until his retirement in 2011. He was a 42-year and 10-month member in good standing with the Local #18 Sheet Metal Workers Union up to his passing.
Wayne loved his polkas! He would take his family to the local dance halls and taverns almost every Sunday afternoon to play his drums with the Ed Hirsch Band. He also played with the Fireman Five Band and Don Frodl Band. The love he had for polkas filtered through to his children and grandchildren. He also grew ginseng on the family farm up until the late 1980’s. He had the first ginseng farm in the Town of Day.
Wayne will be remembered for his love to stay connected with all of his family; it was very important to him. He loved his home, loved planting his flowers, and being outside in his yard. He loved working, reading the Bible, strawberry picking with his grandchildren, driving his tractor, using his wood splitter that he built, driving around to visit family and friends, Pabst, bacon, pepper, and sweets.
He is survived by his children: Jill (Todd) Schillinger of Stratford, WI, Kurt (Beth) Hollatz of Marshfield, WI, Gina Hollatz of Spencer, WI, Dana (Jake Staroba) Hollatz of Green Bay, WI. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren: Allison (Jordan) Wanner, Tylan Schillinger, Taner (Brenna) Schillinger, Savannah (Logan Marsh) Schillinger, Bailey-Ann (Noah Behling) Hollatz, Halle Hollatz, Carter Hollatz, Tanaya Schillinger, Abel Staroba, Rylie Staroba, and Ryker Staroba. He was especially proud to be able to live to be a great grandpa to: Parker Marsh, Palmer Wanner and Brody Schillinger. Brody was born one day before Wayne went to heaven, but he knew of him and would have been excited to meet him.
He is further survived by his brothers and sisters: Dennis (Sherie) Hollatz of Auburndale, WI, Tom Hollatz of Stratford, WI, Karen (Edmund) Beining of Sheboygan Falls, WI, June Ottelien of Stratford, WI and David Hollatz of Stratford, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Lorraine (Olson) Hollatz, brother Keith Hollatz and brother-in-law Ronald Ottelien.
The pallbearers honored to carry Wayne to his final resting place with his family will be: Kurt Hollatz, Carter Hollatz, Todd Schillinger, Jake Staroba, Dan Hollatz, Matt Hollatz, and Nathan Hollatz.
Special thanks from the family to Susan Huber, his home care nurse, who went way above her job duties to help Wayne. When you hear the word nurse you would think she would do only that, but Susan also helped with hard yard work, made him homemade food, and even helped him with many “Man” jobs like cleaning his garage. We want to also thank the nurses at the Marshfield Medical Center CCU, who did all they could to keep him comfortable.
Visitation will be Friday, March 5th, at the Rembs Funeral Home, 300 S. Oak Ave Marshfield, WI 54449 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The funeral service and the proceeding military honors at his burial will be on Saturday, March 6th, at Grace Lutheran Church, 132300 County Rd C, Mosinee, WI. Visitation will be at noon and the service will start at 1:00 pm. Lunch will be served at the Green Valley Town Hall after the burial.
Face coverings are strongly recommended at both locations out of respect to the vulnerable and elderly.
The service will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes.
Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com
Author: News Desk
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