Surnames: Schmidt-Birzer, Jocham, Mueller, Birzer, Zellner, Moesetter, Petrie, Matalas, Hinkelmann, Reinwand, Mitchell, Bloomer, Gruenke, Simonsmeier

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wisconsin) Tuesday, 3 Feb. 2009, p. 2A, col. 3.

Jocham, Lorraine Clara (2 July 1917 - 1 Feb. 2009)

NEILLSVILLE -- Lorraine C. (Schmidt-Birzer) Jocham, 91, of Neillsville, formerly of Milwaukee, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville.

Lorraine Clara Schmidt was born July 2, 1917, in Milwaukee, the daughter of Richard E. and Clara E. (Mueller) Schmidt. She was united in marriage to Clarence Birzer on Dec. 12, 1934. They had one child together, Beverly Ann (Joseph F.) Zellner, now of Auburndale. Clarence passed away April 21, 1961. Lorraine later married Richard P. Jocham on Feb. 14, 1968. He died Dec. 14, 1986.

Lorraine was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She worked as a housewife most of her life. She had learned how to play the accordion and later taught her daughter. She loved to play both the accordion and the organ for her family.

Crocheting was her hobby and made many afghans, dolls and other items for family, friends, neighbors and herself. She loved dogs and birds, and there was rarely a time that she did not have a dog for a pet.

After 86 years of living in Milwaukee, she made a move to Pineview Care Center in Black River Falls, where she was a resident for six months. Lorraine moved to the home of Kristi and Randy Matalas where Kristi became her care giver for 1 1/2 years. In December 2005, Lorraine was transferred to the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville, where she resided until her death. She was a wonderful person and made many friends there.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Ann (Joseph F.) Zellner of Auburndale; 12 grandchildren, Joseph L. (Rose) Zellner of Marshfield, Barbara Zellner of Arpin, Doris L. Hinkelmann of Milwaukee, Janet L. Reinwand of Merrill, John (Michelle) Zellner of Auburndale, James (Robin) Zellner of Blenker, Joel (Debbie) Zellner of Marshfield, Melanie (Bob) Mitchell of Humbird, Jeff (Candie) Zellner of Auburndale, Jerome (Sandy) Zellner of Bangor, Jayne (Tom) Bloomer of Mosinee, and Jay (special friend Jan) Zellner of Fenwood; her great-grandchildren, Rochelle (David) Gruenke, Richard Zellner, Christopher Hinkelmann, Summer Hinkelmann, Joshua, Benjamin, Jeremiah and Jackie Reinwand, Amanda and Adam Zellner, Corey and Kevin Zellner, Tasha and Tracy Zellner, Royce, Tyrel and Holden Mitchell, Samantha and Andrea Zellner, Trevor Zellner, Dereck and Tylor Simonsmeier and Katie Zellner; four stepgreat-grandchildren, Kim, Eric, Sherry and Terry; three great-great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-great-grandchild.

She is further survived by two brothers, Allen (Janet) Schmidt of Lake Delton and Jerome (Lorraine) Schmidt of Ridgeland, Miss.; sister-in-law, Beverly (Richard) Schmidt of Milwaukee; and brothers and sisters-in-law, John (JoAnne) Jocham of Oak Creek, and Joanie Petrie of Franklin; several nieces and nephews; and former caregiver and special friend, Kristi Matalas of Merrillan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; an infant grandson, Jerry Zellner; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy (Paul) Moesetter; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold (Mildred) Schmidt, Lester (Florence) Schmidt, Harvey (Dorothy) Schmidt and Richard E. Schmidt Jr.

Funeral services for Lorraine will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cemetery Chapel. In Neillsville, visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at the Gesche Funeral Home.