Obit: Baumann, Norma W. (1917 - 1998)
Contact : Crystal Wendt
Email: Post4LincolnCoWi@aol.com

Surnames: Baumann, Woller, Kleinschmidt, Donoghue, Czeshinski, Peck, McKenna, Dallman, Mahn, Lundquist

---Source: Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau, Marathon County, Wis.) October 31, 1998

---Baumann, Norma W. (1 June 1917 – 30 Oct. 1998)

Norma W. Baumann

Norma W. Bauman, 81, 1211 Mathews St., Merrill, died Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital.

She was born on June 1, 1917, in the town of Corning, Lincoln County, daughter of the late Herman W. and Martha (Woller) Kleinschmidt. Mr. Kleinschmidt operated the Rib Lake Lumber Co. in Taylor County. Her mother, Martha Kleinschmidt, was the cook in the logging camp. Norma remembers working with her mother, cooking for many hungry lumber-jacks and taking care of her younger brother and nephews. She remembers going to town in either a horse or buggy, or with the sleigh in the winter. Supplies were brought in by train in barrels, drums and 100 pound bags. The lumberjacks worked long hours for about $1 a day, six days a week. After the logging camp era, the Kleinschmidts became farmers, living 10 miles west of Merrill. They sold the farm and moved to Merrill in 1938. Norma still lived in the same house until her death.

She married Leonard C. Baumann on Oct. 22, 1938, in the Town of Corning. He died on Nov. 19, 1983. Norma was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill. She had worked at the former Oconomowoc Canning Co. of Merrill, had been a seamstress for many years at the former Merrill Sportswear, and also had done domestic work for the Len Donoghue family. Norma had enjoyed sewing, knitting, embroidery, crocheting and flower gardening.

Survivors include two daughters, Marlen (Gerald) Czeshinski, Wausau, and Janice (Roger) Peck, Merrill; five grandchildren, Mar (Sue) Czeshinski, Duduque, Iowa, Michael (Kailyn) Czeshinski, Fresno, Calif., Maria (Jerry) McKenna, Milwaukee, Russell (Stacy) Peck, St. Louis, Mo., and Ryan (Sara) Peck, Merrill; five great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Lauren, Mathew, Wyatt, and Emily; and three sister-in-law, Carmeletta Kleinschmidt, Lake Tomahawk, Hilda Dallman, Rib Falls, and Vera Kleinschmidt, Rustburg, Va.

Norma was preceded in death by one sister, Mabel Mahn; and three brothers, Norman, Edward and Lawrence Kleinschmidt.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 1998, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Bryan Lundquist will officiate. Burial will be in Snow Hill Cemetery, Town of Scott. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Taylor-Mann-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and from 11 a.m. Monday until the time of services at the church.

Norma will never be forgotten. Her strong faith in the Lord was an inspiration to all the gave her strength during her illness. She will be missed by all who knew her and loved her.