Obit: Zahn, Louella Jean (1942
– 1992)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Zahn, Badzinski, Duss
----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 08 Dec 1976
Zahn, Louella Jean (27 Oct 1942 – 26 Aug 1992)
After a more than 20-year fight with cancer, Louella Jean Zahn (Badzinski) found
peace with the Lord in heaven on August 26th. She was accompanied in her final
moments by her children and grandchildren at Fairhaven in Whitewater.
Lou was born October 27, 1942 in Thorp Wisconsin. She was the 8th child from a
family of nine brothers and sisters of Louis and Rosella (Duss) Badzinski.
Lou graduated from Thorp High School in 1960 and received her Bachelor of Arts
degree from the Wisconsin State College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1964. She
married Donald Zahn of Sullivan, WI in May 21, 1966 at St. Bernard’s Catholic
Church in Thorp, WI. Together, they completed their Masters degrees from
Northern Arizona University in 1969.
While going to graduate school and working as a teacher she gave birth to two
sons, Shane in New London, Wisconsin in 1967 and Travis in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
in 1970. While devoting full time to being a mom she gave birth to a daughter
Sally in Madison, WI in 1975. After a brief 2-year stay in Georgia, Lou and her
family settled in Whitewater in 1978.
Lou worked for the University of Whitewater from 1978 until her retirement in
2007 almost exclusively with the Continuing Education Department. In addition to
the regular work week, she spent many Saturdays and Sundays on campus helping
out with all of the various camps and conferences. Originally hired as a typist
for the University, she started many days in the early hours around 2 am with a
side job typing theses on an electric typewriter for foreign students pursuing
their MBA’s. Lou loved working for the University and with all of the wonderful
staff.
Lou was a devoted member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Whitewater. She
enjoyed singing in the choir and cantering. She was a founding member of the
University Optimist Club and still assisted with volunteer events such as ticket
taking at all home Warhawk football games into 2018. She was an avid Warhawk
sports fan, especially football, making several trips to the Stagg Bowl in
Virginia.
Lou was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. Despite battling this disease
through double mastectomy, losing the use of her left arm, and continuous daily
pain, she rarely complained and made the most out of every day. The family would
like to thank Pro Health care oncology in Oconomowoc for their dedication and
support in helping Lou battle cancer over two decades.
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