Obit: Ziemke, Ethel L. (1927 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Blaha, Czarnezki, Grossberg, Heffner, Jarchow, Klug, Polacek, Steen, Taylor, Walters, Wiensch, Ziemke

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 05/16/2013

Ziemke, Ethel L. (Steen) (17 FEB 1927 - 11 MAY 2013)

Former Rib Lake resident Ethel L. Ziemke, 86, Madison, died on Saturday, May 11 at University Hospital in Madison, where she had been a patient the past five days.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rib Lake, with Rev. James Heffner officiating. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Rib Lake. Pallbearers are John, Adam, and Shane Czarnezki, Gene Polacek, Sean Grossberg and Brian Walters.

Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of service.

Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake assisted the family with arrangements.

The former Ethel Steen was born on February 17, 1927 in the Town of Greenwood to the late John and Leona (Jarchow) Steen. She attended Rib Lake elementary schools.

On May 3, 1947 at St. John's Lutheran Church, she married Edward Ziemke, who preceded her in death on April 24, 1993. They farmed in the Town of Rib Lake and she also worked at Fawn Valley School and for the Rib Lake School District for over 30 years until retirement.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. She enjoyed baking, cooking, polka music, dancing, playing cribbage and spending time with her family.

Survivors include a daughter, Janice (Larry) Walters of Rib Lake; a son, Dean (Paul Grossberg) Ziemke of Madison; a sister, Arlene Wiensch of Glendale, AZ; a sister-in-law, Marlene Steen of Tripoli; three grandsons, Brian (Karen) Walters, Sean Grossberg and Jacob Ziemke; one great-granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Robert Walters; a sister, Hazel Steen; a brother, Gilbert Steen; six brothers-in-law, Richard and Harry Klug, Donald Taylor, Charles Winter, John Blaha and Herb Wiensch; and four sisters-in-law, Clara and Minnie Klug, Emma (Taylor) Winter and Ella Blaha.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to the family for a future Rib Lake High School scholarship.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.