Oakley Taylor Nardi

Oakley Taylor Nardi, 5 years old, of Merrill, WI passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday October 22nd at Aspirus Merrill Hospital after a 2 ½ year battle with epilepsy. Oakley was born on October 16, 2020 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau to Katelyn Nardi and Terry Dombrowski, who died before Oakley was born, and her brothers Alex and Finn.

Oakley was born during the COVID era and with her mom Katelyn, lived for her first year and a half with her grandma and papa, Steph and Tony Nardi, along with her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Jess. During this time Katelyn met Trevor Haumschild and the two found a place of their own to raise Oakley. Trevor became her “daddy” and the two grew to love each other as father and daughter. This brought Oakley a new loving family on Trevor’s side with grandma and grandpa, Laura and Jeff Haumschild, Aunt Morgyn, Uncle Wyatt, two sets of great grandparents and her four-legged buddy Bullet.

At 3 years old, Oakley became a big sister to Ensley who she loved before her passing at only 5 months old. Oakley’s best friend was her big brother Alex. The two were inseparable when they were together. They loved to play outside and spent hours in the sandbox, riding the little John Deere tractor or in the playhouse. They loved to build “towers” with magnetic blocks and Legos. Making “pancakes and sausages” was their favorite way to start the day.

In September, Oakley started her first year of school at the Pine River School for Younger Learners. She was so excited to go to school so she could make new friends. She loved going to school, doing projects and playing with her friends. She also loved riding the school bus. She could not wait for it to get to the house and pick her up or take her home where mom and dad would be waiting to hear about her day.

Oakley is survived by her loving parents, Trevor and Katelyn, brothers Alex and Finn, her grandparents Tony and Steph Nardi and Jeff and Laura Haumschild and Nancy Nelson, uncles Wyatt (Mercedes) Haumschild and Ryan Nardi, aunts Morgyn (Ellis) Frank, and Jess Nardi, great grandparents Ruth Haumschild, Richard and Molly Kuehnhold, Jim and Doris Bollech and Carol Nardi along with many loving great aunts, great uncles and cousins.

Oakley was a bright star in the lives of everyone who loved her. Her smile and devious little laugh will truly be missed. We know she is with Ensley and her cousins Cody and Dalton playing in Heaven while Terry and great grandpa’s Nick & Richard watch over her.

Visitation will be held at Saint Michael Catholic Church, 611 Stark St. Wausau on Friday, October 31st from 4pm to 6pm with a Prayer service to follow.

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