Mona (McNamar) Wiechmann
1943-2023
Our dear mother, Mona (McNamar) Wiechmann of Manitowish Waters, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2023. She was born on April 4, 1943 to Ray and Mildred McNamar of Medford. After graduating from Medford High School, Mona attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Estes Park, Colo. to work at a girls camp where she found her passion for the “Out-West” culture. Mona, always the tomboy, discovered that the mountains nourished her soul and encouraged her to a life of adventure! She became a very passionate outdoorswoman filling her days with biking, kayaking, hiking, Nordic and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and camping. One of our favorite “aha! our mother is awesome” moments was after she sent us a video of herself bungee jumping while on a trip to New Zealand. We all knew then that Mona was someone who never turned down an opportunity for a thrill! Mona always loved trips to the Southwest United States, vacationing with cousins in Cancun yearly, travelling solo in her van all over the country, road trips with her dear friend Carol where they declared themselves as “The Two Traveling Tarts” as well as several other international trips to places like Croatia and Africa. She was blessed to be surrounded by such astounding friends and family who supported her sense of adventure and shenanigans.
Mona was also quite active in her community. While raising her children in Wausau, she was on the board for the YWCA and the St. Michael’s PTA. After moving to her beautiful lake home in Manitowish Waters, Mona became involved in the Manitowish Waters bike committee, secretary of the Lake Association and held positions as both VP and President of the Northwood Ski Touring Association (NSTA). She was also a member of the Lady Yakkers, the MWChamber of Commerce as well as being active in several other community events.
Mona is survived by her four children, James Baumer of Escondido, Calif., Shane (Mary Jo) Wiechmann of Faribault, Minn., Shannon (Steven) Eckley of Ormond Beach, Fla. and Steve (Melissa) Wiechmann of Bozeman, M.T. as well as her nine amazing grandchildren, Emma, Natalie, Gabriella, April, Desiree, Torin, Noah, Steve and Cory; two beautiful great-grandchildren, Nevaeh and Jacob; brother, Pat (Marlys) McNamar; former husband, John Wiechmann; and dozens of close family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, Johnathon; and her parents, Ray and Mildred McNamar.
Please join us for a celebration of life service on July 20 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Manitowish Waters, with a gathering afterwards. Please feel free to bring a small stone to put into a basket to honor her love for geology and the environment. (All stones will be placed around her property).
In lieu of flowers, in-kind donations can be sent to: Camp ManitoWish, c/o Beth Rondello, PO Box 246, Boulder Junction, WI 54512 or online at manito-wish. org/donate
Paid Obituary 133769
