Obit: Zielke, Viola M. (1915 - 2008)

Poster: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Burgeson, Haybert, Johnsson, Kolasa, Lind, Maki, Nelson, Petcu, Sloan, Swanson, Zeman, Zielke

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI) Thursday, July 17, 2008, Online Edition

Zielke, Viola M. (March 13, 1915 - July 12, 2008)

Viola M. Zielke, 93, Prentice, died Saturday, July 12 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 16 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Town of Spirit, with Rev. Roger Sloan officiating. Interment was at Hillcrest Cemetery in the Town of Spirit. Active pallbearers were Christopher Kolasa, Richard Zielke, Ken Swanson, Norman Zeman, David Lind and Darrel Lind. Honorary pallbearer was Roger Zielke.

The former Viola Swanson was born March 13, 1915 in Spirit to the late August John and Emma Catrina (Johnsson) Swanson. She attended Chateview Graded School, then worked on the family farm.

On June 28, 1941 in Prentice, she married Henry August Zielke, who preceded her in death on January 28, 1984.

They moved to Dayton, Ohio. While Henry served during World War II, she was employed by a defense contractor. After the war ended, they moved back to the Town of Spirit to the family farm and purchased it from her father. After her husband's death, she continued to live on the farm until 1995 when she moved to the Briarwood apartments in Prentice.

She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Women of Spirit and the Liberty Bell Homemakers, and attended Brantwood Senior Center. She enjoyed traveling, walking, writing letters to family and friends, writing poetry, gardening, cooking, and she especially enjoyed visiting with her family.

Survivors include two children, Pamela Zielke of Tomahawk and the Fox Valley, and Darwin (Donna) of Medford; two sisters, her twin, Emily Burgeson and Victoria Nelson, both of Ogema; special friend, Wiho Maki of Prentice; four grandchildren, Merchelle (Christopher) Kolasa of Sparta, Malinda Zielke of Athens, Eric Zielke of Arcata, Calif. and Sarah Zielke of Ashland; three great-grandchildren, Kirsten, Tyler and Brandon Kolasa; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Daryl Wayne; two brothers, Henry and Gustaf; and three sisters and five brothers-in-law, Gerda (Ragnar) Nelson, Esther (George) Petcu, Edith (Walter) Haybert, Herbert Burgeson and Ted Nelson.

Memorials in her honor may be given to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Dallmann-Kniewel Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake assisted the family with arrangements.

Paid Obituary