Jean Zeigle

In Loving Memory

Jean Marie Zeigle (Zimmerman), "Jeannie", age 60, passed away on Thursday Sept. 11, 2014 after a short and difficult battle with cancer. As was Jean's character, during her last few weeks her concerns were not with herself, but with her family and their welfare. Jean was born on Nov. 14 1953 in Monroe WI daughter of Dean and Margaret Zimmerman of Monticello. While attending UW-Platteville, she met her future husband, Mike. After their wedding on Aug 9, 1975, they moved to Centerville, IA where Mike started his teaching career and Jean took a job with the local newspaper. They lived briefly in Paoli, WI where their first son Christopher was born, followed by 9 years in Tomah where daughter Andrea and son Alex were born. From Tomah, the family moved to Sterling Illinois where Jean spent 3 years as a teacher's aide, a job she enjoyed tremendously, where her children also attended. In 1989, the family moved to Sun Prairie, WI where son Patrick was born. Jean had many hobbies and she was always busy. Many of her friends' children were recipients of her sewn dragons tails, capes, knitted hats, gloves and socks. She enjoyed crafting and calligraphy and for many years she looked forward to working her craft booth at the Cranberry Festival in Warrens. She was always working to make the environment she lived or worked in a better place. Jeannie was always quick in volunteering to create workplace decorations at Frontier Communications where she worked the last 19 years. Jean was a wonderful homemaker, a great cook, a loving wife and mother. Jean loved to travel and enjoyed her trips to Switzerland to visit her family, especially when she could take along her children. She enjoyed her Nashville trips with high school friends, and the others she made while there. She also enjoyed trips to National Guard running competitions with Mike throughout the United States where she was always providing support, taking pictures and cheering on Mike and the other Guard team members. Her favorite trips were escapes to anywhere warm with a nice beach, preferably in the winter. However, a winter ski trip to Finland in 2012 provided her with a new favorite destination. She and Mike were planning on a return visit in 2015. Jean had an exceptional ability for making friends wherever she went. She had a way of finding something in common with newly met people that allowed her to connect with them. It was hard not to love her. She was always thinking of some way to do something special for friends, relatives and their children. She brightened up the day of anyone she came in contact with. It was never about Jean but always about friends and family.

Jean is survived by her husband, Mike, her children, Christopher, Andrea Plummer (husband Matt) Alexander and Patrick, grandchildren, Zoe and Tatum Plummer, dog, Bella. She was preceded in death by her parents and aunt Mary Ann Sharer.

A Memorial Mass will be held 11:00am, Saturday, September 20, 2014 at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2420 St. Albert Drive, Sun Prairie with Monsignor Terrence Connors presiding. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Friday, September 19, 2014 at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace in Sun Prairie and also from 10:00am until time of service at the church on Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the MACC Fund for childhood cancer.

Burial will be next to her parents, Dean and Margaret, at the Highland Cemetery at a later date.

Some of her ashes will be scattered at Big Travese Bay, MI on the beach where she and Mike were looking forward to building their retirement home.