Denis Riley Shaver

Denis R. Shaver, 80, of Medford, formerly of Catawba, died Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.

He was born November 21, 1943 in Catawba to Riley and Alice (Halmstad) Shaver.  He graduated from Phillips High School in 1962.  Following high school, he drove milk truck, worked at a pea factory near Tomah, and then worked for Omark & Blount until enlisting in the U.S. Army.  He proudly served his country from 1964 until his honorable discharge in 1967.

After being set up on a blind date with Marian Diestelhorst, Denis knew she was the one and the two were united in marriage on October 14, 1967 at the Methodist Church in Phillips.  They resided in Catawba and Denis continued his employment at Omark & Blount where he worked as a welder.  He retired from there at age 62, after nearly 40 years of service to the company.  He and Marian moved to Medford in August, 2023.

Denis enjoyed any outdoor activity, including snowplowing, cutting wood, canoeing, hunting, fishing and woodworking to name a few.  He also collected sleigh bells and made beautiful new leather belts for each one.

He will be missed by his wife, Marian of Medford; two children, Tammy (Brian) Haubert, Shawn (Cathy) Shaver, all of Catawba; grandchildren, Breann (T.J.) Edinger, Erica (fiancé Dalton Rohde) Haubert, Traley Haubert, Jered (fiancée Marie Harrington) Shaver, and Derek Shaver; great-grandchildren, Addy, Troy (who shares a birthday with Denis), Annie, Stella and Jax; a brother-in-law, Steven Brumley of Indiana; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jane Brumley.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Hemer-Pickerign Funeral Home in Medford with Pastor Hailey Halmstad officiating.  Military honors provided by the Medford Area Military Honors Team will immediately follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at Catawba Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

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