Obit: Zillmer, Marie Helene (1910 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zillmer, Tragsdorf, Walk, Lovstad, Paun, Watson, Hushek, Johnston, Hill, Lemke, Olds, Schneider

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) April 6, 2011

Zillmer, Marie Helene (17 November 1910 - 1 April 2011)

Marie Zillmer, 100, of Marshfield, formerly of Fairchild, was received in the loving arms of the Lord surrounded by her family Friday April 1, 2011.

Marie Helene Zillmer was born Nov. 17, 1910, in Neillsville, the daughter of John and Emma (Tragsdorf) Walk.  She received her education in the Neillsville Public and Parochial (St. John’s) Schools. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1928 and from its Teacher’s Training Department in 1929.  Marie also received a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eau Claire University.  She taught at many schools in Clark County for 45 years, retiring in 1974.

She was united in marriage to Alfred Zillmer of Fairchild Nov. 2, 1934, at Neillsville, and three children were born to this union. Marie and her husband retired in 1974 and moved from Greenwood to Fairchild in 1976. Alfred died in 1986. She resided in Fairchild until she became ill in 1993 and then moved to Marshfield and lived at Parkview Apartments. She has also resided at the Marshfield Care Center since 2010.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Ladies Aid and was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairchild.  She is also an honorary member of MARTA, was secretary and treasurer of AAL an also served on the election board for the Town of Cleveland.

Marie loved her family and loved being with her family, playing games and being a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a very religious person who was very strong in her faith.  She will long be remembered for her peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches and her delicious macaroni and cheese dish.

Marie is survived by three children, DuWayne Zillmer of Pulaski, Robert (Barbara) Zillmer of Milwaukee and Karen (Kenneth) Lovstad of Chili; six grandchildren, Krisan (Scot) Paun, Kari (Tom) Watson, Kenneth Lovstad, Laurie (Steven) Hushek, Stephanie (Russ) Johnston and Sherry (Kevin Hill) Zillmer and eight great-grandchildren, Danielle, Aaron and Kaitlin Paun, Jordan and Sophie Watson, Benjamin, Joseph and Alex Hushek.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Zillmer; her parents; brothers, Oscar and Harold Walk; sisters, Leona Lemke and Gertrude Olds and a daughter-in-law, Leah Zillmer.

Funeral services for Marie were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fairchild. Pastor Terry Schneider officiated.  Interment was in the Gruehlke Cemetery in Fairchild.  Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Casketbearers were: Kenneth Lovstad, Aaron Paun, Jordan Watson, Benjamin, Joseph and Alex Hushek.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to her family for designation at a later date.  Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Marie’s family with funeral arrangements.