It is a strange thing, isn't it? We wake up, grab a coffee, and one of the first things many of us do in the Fox Cities is check who we’ve lost. Honestly, it’s not about being morbid. It’s about connection. When you look at Appleton WI obituaries today, you aren't just looking at a list of names and dates. You are looking at the literal fabric of Outagamie County—the shop owners from College Ave, the paper mill workers who built this town, and the grandmothers who made the best booyah in the state.
Loss hits differently in a place like Appleton. We’re big enough to have everything we need but small enough that you usually know someone who knew the person in the paper.
Today, January 15, 2026, the community is reflecting on several neighbors who recently passed. These aren't just statistics; they are lives that shaped our schools, our churches, and our Friday night fish fries.
Who We Are Remembering Right Now
If you've been checking the recent notices, you probably saw the name Barbara J. Shoemaker. She passed away just a few days ago on January 11 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was 83. Barb was an Appleton girl through and through, graduating in the class of 1960. What’s kind of cool about her story is that even though she traveled a lot, she eventually came back home to spend 24 years living with her sister, Auds. Her family basically said if you want to honor her, go have a fish fry or play a round of golf. That is so Wisconsin, right?
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Then there’s Greta L. Hammond and Mildred Geraldine "Gerry" Traxler, whose names appeared in the latest updates. Every time a name like "Gerry" or "Barbara" pops up, it feels like a library of local history is closing its doors.
We also lost John William Bartels recently. He was 92 and from Freedom, just down the road. He lived through nearly a century of Fox Valley changes. And then there is Helen Czekalski, who reached the incredible age of 100. She was a Holocaust survivor who moved to Kaukauna in 1950. Think about that for a second. From the horrors of World War II to a quiet life in Kaukauna—that’s a movie-worthy legacy right there in our own backyard.
Why Keeping Up With Appleton WI Obituaries Today Matters
You might wonder why people still obsessively check these listings when social media exists. Honestly, Facebook is messy. Obituaries are formal. They are the "final draft" of a person's life.
In Appleton, the primary hubs for this info are still the Post-Crescent and the local funeral homes. If you’re searching for someone, you’re likely bouncing between a few places:
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- Wichmann Funeral Homes: They handle a huge portion of the services in the area.
- Brettschneider-Trettin-Nickel: This is where Barbara Shoemaker’s arrangements were handled.
- Valley Funeral Home: Another staple on N. Richmond St.
- Legacy.com: Usually the digital aggregator for the Post-Crescent’s printed notices.
Checking these isn't just about sending flowers. It's about showing up. In a town like ours, showing up for a visitation at Wichmann or O'Connell is just what you do. It’s how we keep the community tight.
The Changing Face of Local Memorials
Things are shifting, though. You’ve probably noticed that not everyone does a traditional funeral anymore. Take Barbara Shoemaker—per her wishes, no services. More and more people are opting for "Celebrations of Life" at local parks or even just a private family gathering.
It makes the written obituary even more important. When there isn't a formal service to attend, that paragraph in the paper is sometimes the only public acknowledgement that a life has ended. It's the only place where we find out that Mr. Johnson from down the street was actually a decorated veteran or that the quiet lady at the library used to be a professional ballroom dancer.
How to Find a Specific Notice
If you are looking for someone specific today, don't just rely on a generic Google search. Sometimes the "today" results are actually from three years ago because of how search engines work.
- Go directly to the funeral home website. If you know the family uses Wichmann or Valley, go to their "Obituaries" or "Current Services" page. It’s always more up-to-date than the newspaper.
- Check the Outagamie County Legacy page. This pulls from multiple sources and lets you sort by "Past 24 hours" or "Past week."
- Don't forget the smaller towns. Sometimes an Appleton resident might have their service in Neenah, Menasha, or Little Chute. Check Verkuilen-Van Deurzen or Westgor if you aren't finding them in the Appleton-specific lists.
Dealing With the Logistics of Loss
When someone passes, the "to-do" list is overwhelming. If you’re the one writing the notice, the pressure is real. You want to get it right. You want to mention the grandkids but not forget the sister-in-law. You want to capture their "vibe" without sounding like a Hallmark card.
Most local funeral directors are great at helping with this. They’ve seen it all. They know how to balance the formal "preceded in death by" stuff with the personal "he loved the Packers and hated overcooked steak" details.
Actionable Steps for Those Following the News
If you’ve found a friend or former colleague in the Appleton WI obituaries today, here is what you can actually do:
- Sign the online guestbook. It sounds small, but families read every single one of those comments. Especially months later when the initial shock has worn off.
- Check for memorial preferences. Before you send lilies, see if they requested donations to the Fox Valley Humane Association or Old Glory Honor Flight. Appleton folks are big on "in lieu of flowers."
- Share the link. If you see a notice for a former teacher or co-worker, share it with your old circles. Often, people don't find out until weeks later because they didn't check the paper that specific day.
- Reach out. A simple card to the family’s home address (often listed or available through the funeral home) means more than a "sorry for your loss" comment on a social media post.
Loss is a heavy part of life, but in a place like the Fox Valley, we don't have to carry it alone. Whether it's a hundred-year-old survivor like Helen or a lifelong resident like Barbara, these lives are what make Appleton, well, Appleton.
To stay informed, bookmark the local funeral home sites directly. It's the most reliable way to ensure you don't miss the chance to say goodbye to a neighbor or celebrate a life well-lived in our corner of Wisconsin.