Edwin Wichlacz

Edwin Anthony Wichlacz, age 91, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at The Waterford at Colby under the tender care of Heartland Hospice.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan. Father George Graham will preside. Interment to follow at the church cemetery with military honors provided by Edgar American Legion Post #393. Please join the family for visitation at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 4 until 8 p.m. and Friday at the church beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service.

Edwin was born on March 20,1933, the son of Anton and Lucille (Kordus) Wichlacz in the Town of Rietbrock, Marathon County. He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War from 1953-1955, earning the rank of E-4, Corporal Squad Leader and continued to serve in the Army Reserves for eight years. On July 10, 1954, Edwin was united in marriage to Betty Carol Zobrak at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan. They lived in Milan for 68 years.

Edwin worked for 33 years at Kraft Foods in Milan until 1989 when the plant closed. He also drove milk truck part-time. He then worked at Weathershield in Medford and Wisconsin Dairies in Milan retiring in 1996.

Edwin was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Milan and Catholic Family. He was a member of the Edgar American Legion Post #393.

Edwin could figure out how to fix just about anything. He enjoyed woodworking crafts with his wife, hunting, fishing, camping, cutting wood, gardening, canning pickles, making sauerkraut, growing horseradish, tomatoes, feeding and watching the birds. Edwin especially enjoyed playing checkers with his children and grandchildren and worked on puzzles. He also collected Jim Beam fish bottles and mini oil lamps. Edwin was honored to go on the “Never Forgotten Honor Flight” in September 2017 accompanied by his son, Scott. He was born during a snow storm, so