Obituary of Elroy J. Bud Pilgrim

Elroy J. Pilgrim "Bud" age 90, of Edgar passed away peacefully with family at his bedside on Friday, December 18, 2015 at Copperleaf Assisted Living of Marathon City. Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at St. Stephen Lutheran Church ELCA in Edgar with Pastor Gail Sowell officiating. Burial will follow in Edgar Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather on Monday at the church in Edgar from 4PM until 8PM and again on Tuesday at the church from 9:30AM until time of services. The honor of pallbearer for Bud belongs to Marvin Pilgrim, Eugene Pilgrim, Dale Pilgrim, Mike Beattie,Brad Boettcher andTravis Boettcher. Elroy was born June 16, 1925 in Edgar, the son of Gustave and Mary (Flegle) Pilgrim. After graduating from Edgar High School, Bud resided in the Edgar area and married Lydia Draeger on September 4, 1946. Sadly, she passed away on September 4, 1964. He was later united in marriage to Elaine Stack on July 17, 1971. She survives. Bud owned and operated a dairy farm until selling his herd in 1964, at which time he started to work construction. He helped build the present day Liberty Mutual Insurance building in Wausau. After construction work he became employed in the maintenance department at Employers Insurance until his retirement in 1987. Bud also enjoyed hobby farming for many years. If you knew Bud, you knew about his wonderful and witty sense of humor, his love of playing cards with family and friends and willingness to pick up a game or two of cribbage. Other hobbies included throwing horseshoes and playing on the church’s dart ball league. Bud was a longtime member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church ELCA. He gave of his time and talents in the construction of the present day church located in Edgar and was a member of the church council for many years. He also held the position of treasurer for the Town of Wien in Marathon County. Survivors include his wife Elaine of Edgar; his children: Diana (Gary) Boettcher of Baraboo, Donna (Mark) Murkowski of Rib Mountain, Londra (Chad) Rogers of Mosinee, Douglas (Denice) Pilgrim of Edgar and Tandra (Geoff King) Pilgrim of Cascade; his grandchildren: Brad, Travis (Shannon), Tia (David), Matt (Jennifer), Allison (Paxton), Ann (Alex), Amy (Torey), Gatlin, Greyde, Dominique, Shontay, Deirdra, Sondra, Deagon, Melinda and Elliot; 14 great grandchildren; one brother Glenn (Louise) Pilgrim of Pillager,MN. He is also survived by seven sister-in-laws; Esther Pilgrim, Adeline Pilgrim, Louise (Glenn) Pilgrim, Marion Draeger, Frances (Allan Benton) Grosskreutz, Joan Manthy, Patricia (Jim) Pautzke, three brother-in-laws; Wilmer Tuchscher, Jerome (Mary) Stack and Thomas (Mary) Stack, along with many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Lydia, five sisters: Selma Hamann, Viola Bauman, Mildred Panzigrau-Knutson, Mabel Punke, and Elaine Beattie, and three brothers: John in infancy, Alvin and William. If desired, memorials in Bud’s name are being accepted to St. Stephen Lutheran Church ELCA. The family extends special thanks to the staff of Copperleaf Assisted Living of Marathon City for the wonderful care and attention given to Bud. Arrangements by Life Tributes Funeral Home -Spencer. Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.