Todd David Wanta, age 63, died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 8, 2026. He was born on May 23, 1962 in Wausau, Wisconsin to David Wanta and Nancy Kurszewski Wanta of Bevent. Todd grew up in Bevent and attended the Wittenberg-Birnamwood schools. He married Julie Oleson of Hatley, Wisconsin 45 years ago in 1980, and they had two daughters.
Todd and Julie ventured into the greyhound racing business in 1995 and had a kennel in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; later moving to a larger track in Hudson, Wisconsin. They trained and raced the greyhounds for five years and had success, especially with one of their dogs who proved to be a champion and held numerous records at the track. This was an intense business for them that required hard work seven days a week, but they enjoyed it because of their love for the animals.
It ended in the year 2000, when Todd was diagnosed with the progressive, crippling disease, Multiple Sclerosis. He was 38 years old at the time and decided he did not want to wait to fulfill one of his dreams, which was to move to Las Vegas to join his mother and brother in the family business which was owning and operating three apartment complexes of over 400 units. He sold the dogs and the kennels and his home in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, took his wife and two daughters and headed west. He was able to help with the physical work for 10 years, until his disease, again, made it too much of a struggle. He retired in 2015.
Todd enjoyed living in Las Vegas with all of its interesting things to do. He loved football and was an excellent handicapper. Every year, he entered a 17-week football tournament sponsored by Station Casinos with hundreds of other entrants. It required that he choose the winning team of five games each week, and the year he won first place, he took home a large jackpot. This became more than a hobby for Todd; it became a challenge. He spent many hours each week studying and preparing his entries.
It was eleven years ago when Todd lost his ability to walk. The disease then seemed to accelerate until he could no longer stand, nor could he sit nor could he bend his elbows. He became totally disabled and had been bedridden since 2023. Multiple sclerosis had won the battle that Todd had fought for 25 years – a fight well fought.
Todd had been treated by numerous doctors throughout his illness. He doctored in Marshfield and Wausau, Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nevada, and neurology specialists in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, California.
Yet, Todd never lost his pleasant disposition, his great sense of humor, and he always had a smile for everyone. He was not only very kind, but he was a sensitive soul and hated being a burden and confined to the chair. He would feel so sorry for others who were actually in better condition than he was. His life was cut short, but yet he did manage to have fun and enjoy the time he had here because he had so many fun and interesting things to do.
Survivors include his wife, Julie Wanta of Las Vegas, his father, David Wanta (Jennie Awana) of Schofield, Wisconsin, his mother Nancy Dudley of Las Vegas, daughters Amanda Wanta and Angela Wanta of Las Vegas, one brother Troy (Ginger) Wanta of Las Vegas, and grandsons Trentin and Casen Wanta and Cash Bruns, all of Las Vegas.
"He couldn't walk; now he can run!"
