WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A celebration of life for former WAOW anchor Neena Pacholke has been scheduled for this weekend.
Friends and family announced on Thursday that services will be held Sunday, September 4th at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Weston. Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 PM with a service to follow.
The visitation and service are open to friends, family, and the public.
A second celebration will be held in Neena’s hometown of Tampa, Florida at a later date.
The 27-year-old died by suicide on Saturday, August 27th in her apartment in Wausau. She is survived by her parents, sister, and fiance.
She moved to Wausau in the spring of 2017 after graduating from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She began her career at WAOW as a reporter covering a variety of stories on both the day and night beats. She eventually worked her way into anchoring and was named to her current post as co-anchor of Wake Up Wisconsin in 2019.
Since her death, many former co-workers, friends, and viewers have described her as a warm and caring person. She was known for her infectious smile and laugh and had the ability to make anyone feel like the most important person in the room.
Former WSAU Radio news and sports reporter Liz Holbrook noted her kindness in a Tweet earlier this week:
I’m still in shock. Neena was one of the 1st people I met in Wausau as a new reporter fresh out of undergrad. She helped make a very lonely place feel a little less lonely with her kindness.
Thinking of her family and friends tonight 💛💛💛 https://t.co/Qi812A4yfb
— Liz Holbrook💖💜💙 BLM (@muchadoaboutliz) August 29, 2022
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out. You are not alone and there are many resources available you can find here.
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