Darlene Lois Zeise, Fort Atkinson  (1930 - 2012)

Darlene Lois Zeise was born to eternal life on Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, surrounded by her children. She was born in Green Bay on November 1, 1930, the firstborn and only daughter of Henry and Adeline (Liebmann) Van Ess. She graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1948 and married her beloved “Dixie,” Richard Zeise, on August 4, 1951.
She is survived by five children: Cheri (Dennis) Schmidt of Madison, Cathy (Denny) Steele of Milton, Curt (Janet) Zeise of Beaver Dam, Craig Zeise, and Beth (Mike) Mader of Green Bay; 14 grandchildren: Heather, Andrew (Lisa), Nicholas (Sarah), and Michael Schmidt, Courtney, Hayley, Jarrod and Krista Steele, Carissa (Donald) Pottner, Zachary and Vanessa Zeise, Brooke, Lauren and Luke Mader; and five great-grandchildren: Corey Quaschnik, Jesse, Kai and Carson Steele, and Lily Schmidt. She is further survived by two brothers, Carmon (Mary) Van Ess and Larry (Jane) Van Ess, both of Green Bay, a sister-in-law, Grace (Reginald) Bayard of Green Bay, and brothers-in-law Roger Zeise of Scottsdale, Arizona, and James (Beatrice) Zeise of Harshaw, Wisconsin, as well as many other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her in-laws, Clarence and Gertrude (Van Beek) Zeise; a brother, Vernon Van Ess; sisters and brothers-in-law, Estelle (Leo) Zeutzius, Betty (Kenneth) Wendlendt,, Mary (Ray) Burkard, Robert (Carol) Zeise, Donald (Joan) Zeise, Clarence Zeise Jr., Raymond Zeise and Thomas Zeise; dear friend, Marion Frey; and a very special “grand dog,” Molly, who was her faithful companion for the past 12 years.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm on Thursday, December 6 at CROSSPOINTE COMMUNITY CHURCH in Whitewater, with Rev. Donald Stein officiating, followed by a visitation and celebration of her life from 3-7pm. A visitation will take place at BLANEY FUNERAL HOME in Green Bay on Friday, December 7 from 3 to 7pm, with a prayer service at 6:30pm. Interment at Fort Howard Mausoleum in Green Bay. A full obituary may be seen at www.whitewaterbanner.com.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity of your choice is appreciated.
Thank you, Mom, for your servant’s heart and unconditional love. We are forever indebted to you and can only hope to live up to your example. You are irreplaceable and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved you.