Loretta M. Seidler

Loretta Marie Seidler, age 91, of Merrill, Wisconsin, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, April 15, 2024, while at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.

She was born to the late Irene (Moorman) Krueger on September 16, 1932, in Cortland, Indiana. She was baptized on October 26, 1932, and confirmed on April 21, 1946, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Seymour, Indiana.

She attended Columbus High School, Columbus, Indiana and transferred to and graduated from Athens High School, May 28, 1951.  She met the love of her life, Leroy Seidler, and they were married on February 14, 1953, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin.  Leroy preceded her in death on January 29, 2008.     

She worked her entire life at Weinbrenner Shoe Factory, Merrill, and retired from the Merrill Finished Goods Warehouse in 2000 after 48 years of continuous service. She naturally had a fun-loving, caring, and pleasant way about her.  She had a contagious smile and handled life’s ups and downs with grace.  Loretta loved decorating for the holidays at her house, showing her holiday spirit. She was always very supportive and proud of her children and later her grandchildren, attending concerts, plays, recitals, soccer games, and family celebrations, to name a few.  Later in life, she enjoyed going to her water aerobics classes at Riverside Athletic Club in Merrill and was a social butterfly!

In her younger years, she and Leroy had the opportunity to enjoy some traveling, including Europe, Branson, Nashville and Washington, D.C.  She also loved bowling and was on the VFW Auxiliary Post #1638 team of the Thursday Night Ladies Handicap League at Les and Jim’s for many years.  She loved playing Sheephead at every opportunity she had, as well as going to the casino, playing bingo and other games.  She also loved her country and polka music, dancing when she was younger, and enjoying polka shows on TV and the radio.   Sundays, years ago, included church, followed by the Jerry Goetsch and Dick Rogers’s shows.  Loretta was a member of the VFW Auxiliary Post #1638 for over 50 years, a member at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin and a previous member of the Merrill Lioness Club.  She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Loretta leaves behind her children: Debra (Ward) Burgess of Rib Mountain, Wisconsin and Timothy (Lynn) of Merrill, Wisconsin, grandchildren: Matthew Burgess of Rib Mountain and David Burgess of Waukesha, Nicole Seidler of Eau Claire and Molly Seidler of Merrill. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Irene and Edwin Krueger, husband, Leroy L. Seidler, stepbrother and sister-in-law, Wilbert and Mildred Krueger, and her beloved cat, Isabella.

The funeral service for Loretta will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin.  Rev. Andrew DeGier will officiate.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Waid Funeral Home and again on Friday, April 19, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service, at the church.  Burial in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery will immediately follow the service.

For those unable to attend the service in person, it will be recorded and available for future viewing under her obituary on the funeral home website.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Berlin, Northland Lutheran High School, Kronenwetter, Wisconsin or the Lincoln County Humane Society.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services and Pine Crest Nursing Home for their care and support.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements.   Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.