Arden James Emmerich

Arden James Emmerich, 91, of Mosinee, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8, 2026, surrounded by love.

Arden was a lifelong learner whose curious mind and remarkable frugality shaped the way he lived. He found purpose in simplicity and often reminded his grandchildren that financial security is not how much you make in life, but how much you spend.

Born on February 24, 1934, in Mosinee, Wisconsin to James and Elva Emmerich, Arden was the firstborn of four children and was raised on a small farm south of Mosinee. When he was 6 years old, his father was seriously injured in a small plane crash and remained in the hospital for more than a year. During that time, Arden became “the man of the house”, taking on barn chores, arriving early at school to start the fire in the schoolhouse, and hunting squirrels and rabbits to help feed the family.

At age 12, he learned to ski on borrowed wooden skis on Rib Mountain. By 16, he joined the Rib Mountain ski Patrol, where he served for 20 years.

In 1952, during his senior year of high school, he and some Mosinee friends crashed a 4-H roller skating party at the Rothschild Pavilion. There he noticed the prettiest girl on the floor – Donna – and that first encounter began a love story that lasted a lifetime. They were married one year later and shared 73 wonderful years together, celebrating their anniversary on March 12, 2026.

Donna and Arden made their home in Mosinee throughout their married life. After they married, Arden attended college and graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in chemistry and paper science. He began his career in 1955 as a salesman for Mosinee Paper Corporation. After 14 years of weekly travel and with four children at home, Arden and Donna decided the entrepreneurial life suited them better. IN 1973, they started Home Mart Realty in Schofield, Wisconsin.

From there Arden’s business interests grew to include a construction company, several gas stations, a trailer park, a fuel oil delivery business and even ventures in ginseng and Christmas tree farming. As the market and interest rates changed his rental property portfolio, under the Emmerich Properties name, continued to grow. When Arden retired at age 87, after 53 years in business, the company had become one of the largest landlords of residential and commercial properties in central Wisconsin.

Arden loved to go to work and had a positive spirit that always saw possibilities. He was active in government advocacy for small business through the Chamber of Commerce and consistently supported less government and lower taxes. He served as president of both the State Builders Association and the Realtor Association and believed deeply in building community.

He also cherished dancing and traveling with Donna, riding horses, flying his single- engine plane, hunting, playing cards, curling and spending time with family and friends. A 50- year member of the Wausau Country Club and Indian Head Golf Course, he delighted in living in Mosinee and could often be seen walking or biking around town with Donna, greeting everyone they met.

Arden faithfully served others through Mosinee United Methodist Church, where he and Donna were active members for 73 years. He often helped tenants who needed an extra hand and was respected for being firm but always fair by all who knew him.

Arden is survived by his sister Marita Wagner (Appleton) and sister in law Gwen Emmerich (Menomonee Falls); sisters and brothers in law Shirley Baumann (Summit Lake), Burnell (Jeanette) Utecht (Town of Maine), Nancy Chervenka (Neenah), and Michael (Mary) Utecht (Cicero , IN).

Children Jeff (Heddy) Emmerich (Norwich, CT), Susan Lang (Wausau), Cheryl (Tim) Paulson (Mosinee), and daughter-in-law Jan Knox (Columbia Falls, MT), and family friend Roger Lang (Wausau);

loving grandchildren Madelin Lang, Jake Lang, McKenna Emmerich, Ben Paulson, Michael Grillo and family friend Danni Niles; great-grandchildren Mason, Rowan, Tristin, and Oona: many nieces, nephews, their children, and caring friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Donna, who passed away just four days earlier on April 4, 2026, and his son Scott Emmerich in 2018 (Columbia Falls, MT).

We take comfort in knowing that after a lifetime together, Arden and Donna are reunited once again.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date .

In honor of Arden, please consider helping someone who needs as extra hand, as he so often did throughout his life.

Beste Funeral Home of Mosinee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.bestefh.com.

The family extends a warm thank you to the Aspirus Hospice House team for their care and kindness.