Kathleen “Ann” Wiemer, 82, became another angel in heaven on March 24, 2016. She lived her final days at Pine Brook Pointe in Burlington where she fought a long and courageous battle through several chronic medical illnesses.
She was born in Racine on July 7, 1933, to the late Leo and Dorothy (Karpen) Zinnen of Eagle Lake in Kansasville. She was raised on the lake with her siblings and took with her many happy memories of her childhood and adult years. It was the love of the lake that inspired her to become an avid swimmer, water skier and pyramid ski formation skier with her friends and siblings. She attended the country grade school in the Town of Dover, hence the era “I walked for miles and miles up and down hills in freezing rain, snow blizzards and sub zero temperatures to and from school.” Ann graduated in 1951 from Catholic Central High School and shortly thereafter began employment as a secretary for the Bardon Rubber Co. in Union Grove.
On Nov. 29, 1952, she married Bernard E. Wiemer. He preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 2006. Following marriage they moved to London, Conn., where Bernie was stationed in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. In 1953 they moved to Philadelphia, Pa., after Bernie received a transfer and spent time at sea. After an honorable discharge from the Navy they moved back to Burlington where they lived and raised their family until 1971.
Being avid Packer fans, they relocated to Green Bay due to career growth for Bernie and educational opportunities for their disabled son, Mark.
They also became loving puppy parents to their beloved dog, Sam, a Siberian Husky. While residing in Green Bay, Ann was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Vincent’s Hospital, the ARC Association, Nativity Parish volunteer and visited the sick in local hospitals.
Ann and Bernie loved living in Green Bay on Valley View Road, a block from the Packer Stadium. They hosted all pre and post Packer parties for friends and relatives from the Burlington area and preseason Packer pool parties. They became good friends with Jerry and Luanne Brenner and Bruce and Joette Renier who they frequented when traveling to the Packer games after moving back to Burlington. They eventually became season ticket holders for the Packers for 16 years.
After Bernie’s retirement in 1993 they moved back to Burlington reuniting with her friends and classmates and attending numerous sporting events of their grandchildren.
Ann was an outdoor summer and winter enthusiast enjoying the beaches, boating, skiing, swimming, golfing, baseball and picnics with her family and alternately making snowmen, sledding, cross country skiing, bowling and ice skating. She enjoyed sheepshead, reading, watching movies and lunching with her friends, Rita, Joyce and Joey.
She had a few outside employment opportunities, working for Johnny Reynolds Supper Club, the Coral Reef and as a Green Bay School bus driver. Her career opportunities were limited as she was needed to care for her disabled son who in her later years was a guiding light for her. Ann’s later years were spent living at Elder Care Cottages in Waterford and wanting to be back in Burlington, was moved to Pine Brook Pointe in December of 2015. While in assisted living she frequently went on outings with her friends and sister-in-law, Lorraine, and often her daughter took her to visit a very dear friend, Floret Engel at Vintage On the Ponds in Delavan.
Survivors include her children, David (Sue) Wiemer, McFarland, Karen (Paul) Willich, Burlington, Thomas (Sherry) Wiemer, Beloit and Mark Wiemer, Burlington; grandchildren, Garrett Mitchell, Minneapolis, Jessica (Dan) Felix, Lake Nebagamon, Brian (Dona) Willich, Burlington, Kristen Willich (fiancé Phillip Olsen), San Diego, Ashley (Justin) Stewart, Fort Atkinson, Gregg Willich (fiancé Brittany Mattson), Milwaukee, Justin Wiemer, Madison, Andrew (Sarah) Wiemer, Green Bay; great-grandchildren, Edison and Miles Felix, Madison DelFava, Liberty and Lincoln Willich, Tenley Stewart and Riley Wiemer; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Zinnen, June Wiemer, Diane Wiemer; brother-in-law, Larry (Judy) Wiemer, Bend Ore.; cousins, Don Anderson, Delavan, Jim (Pat) Becker, Racine; nieces; nephews; other relatives and her dear and loyal friends who have walked with her through her entire journey of life until the very end, Claude and Phyllis Robers, John and Rita Degen, Joyce Testdorf, and Joey Juranek.
She was further preceded in death by her in-laws, Edward and Gertrude Wiemer; brothers, John Zinnen and Leo Zinnen; brothers-in-law, Edward Wiemer and Eugene Nienhaus; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Nienhaus, Lauretta Zinnen, Noreen Wiemer and nephew, Chester Nienhaus.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 9, at 12:30 p.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church with the Rev. James Volkert presiding. Visitation for family and friends is April 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home, 625 S. Browns Lake Drive, Burlington.
Well-wishers can visitwww.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
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