Fourth Generation

28. DonElaine Jeanette "Donnie" WAEGE was born on 9 November 1927 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^11,26 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴ She appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁵ She was living with her parents. Donnie died on 25 July 2012 at the age of 84 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁹ Obituary Notes: "DonElaine Jeanette Zimmerman, 84, passed away at her home in Tomah, Wednesday July 25, 2012. She was born Nov. 9, 1927, to Ferdinand and Anna Marie Waege, the youngest of 14 children.

She was a loyal member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah her entire life. She was married to Donald Kiefer for 33 years. To this union two children were born, AnnaMae and Lamont. She was united in marriage Feb. 14, 1981, to August Zimmerman. They were happily married until Augie’s passing Feb. 1, 2011. DonElaine loved to cook her family’s favorite foods and enjoyed spending time with them.

She is survived by her children, AnnaMae (Terry) Tralmer and Lamont (Dilynn) Kiefer, all of Tomah; grandchildren Chad (Sheri) Tralmer, Jami Tralmer and Michael Wellnitz; great- grandchildren Macey and Tori Tralmer; her only surviving sibling, Bernice Laudon; sisters-in-law Lori Waege and Arlene Waege; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Augie; her parents; her siblings; and a grandson, Joel Tralmer.

She and Augie lived their final years in their new home at Liberty Village. This facility and its staff had become a new extended family. She deeply appreciated the love and care they gave her. DonElaine also had a special friendship with her hair stylist, Laurie Wehman.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah. Pastor Brandt officiated, and burial followed in the Oak Grove Cemetery."

DonElaine Jeanette "Donnie" WAEGE and Donald Bolton KIEFER were married on 29 May 1945.⁴ They⁴ were divorced on 10 September 1979.^4,30 Donald Bolton KIEFER, son of John Henry KIEFER and Charlotte BOLTON, was born on 19 November 1922 in Monroe County, WI.^4,12,26 He died on 30 May 2005 at the age of 82 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²

Obituary Notes: "Donald Bolton Kiefer, 82, of Tomah, died Monday, May 30, 2005, at his home. He was born Nov. 19, 1922, to John Henry and Charlotte (Bolton) Kiefer in Monroe County. He was united in marriage to Don Elaine Waege and they were later divorced.

It was Don's dream to own and operate his own tavern. He achieved this dream by owning and operating the Hofbrau Tavern in Tomah for 16 years; he enjoyed spending time there while his son operated the tavern for 14 years. During the 30 years that the Kiefer family owned and operated the Hofbrau Tavern, Don introduced the Swampwater drink to the Tomah area. His early farm days came through in his later years in many different ways. He enjoyed mowing laws, putzing around the yard, working on his family's vehicles, and also enjoyed woodworking. He was a faithful member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Don was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and companion.

He is survived by a son, Lamont (Dilynn) of Tomah; a daughter, Anna Mae (Terrance) Tralmer of Tomah; four grandchildren, Joel (Dena) Tralmer of Onalaska, Chad Tralmer of Tomah, Jami Tralmer of Eau Claire and Michael Wellnitz of Milwaukee; two great-grandchildren, Macey and Tori Tralmer; a special companion, Marguerite Protz of Tomah, and her children, Judy (Keith) Miller of Fort Atkinson and Lauren (Carol) Protz of Lansdawne, VA, and her grandchildren, Scott (Lisa) Baron of West Bend, Christopher (Andrea) Baron of Jefferson, Lynn (Mike) Mangan of Janesville, Kim (Gary) Carnes of Green Bay, Kathy (Kevin) Miller of Fort Atkinson, Keith Miller, Jr. of Gays Mills, and several grandchildren, He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.

Funeral services were held today (Thursday), June 2, at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1221 LaGrange Ave., Tomah. Pastor John C. Wille will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Visitation was on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the services. Memorials may be given to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, The Tomah Hospice Touch, or the Cardiac Rehab Dept. at Tomah Memorial Hospital."

He was buried on 2 June 2005 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹² in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

DonElaine Jeanette "Donnie" WAEGE and Donald Bolton KIEFER had the following children:

DonElaine Jeanette "Donnie" WAEGE and August Leo "Augie" ZIMMERMAN were married on 14 February 1981.⁴ August Leo "Augie" ZIMMERMAN, son of Emil ZIMMERMAN and Freda Augusta SAXBY, was born on 20 September 1927 in Clifton Township, Monroe County, WI.^30,50 He died on 1 February 2011 at the age of 83 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁰

Obituary Notes: "August Leo “Augie” Zimmerman, age 83, of Tomah, Wis., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, at the Tomah VA Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1927, to Emil and Augusta (Schuett) Zimmerman in the town of Clifton, Monroe County, Wisconsin. He was a 1945 graduate of Kendall High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1945 until 1946 and then with the Naval Reserves until 1954.

Augie worked at La Crosse Floral, VanPak and for Farmer Construction before going to work for the city of Tomah in 1949. In 1957 he became the Foreman of Public Works where he worked until his retirement in 1989. Augie was very active in the Tomah community and was proud to have served on the Tomah Fire Department for 30 years and also worked as a Tomah EMT. He was a member of the American Legion and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a very supportive parent and grandparent and loved spending time with his family. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, woodworking and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s events. He was a dear friend to many people.

He is survived by his wife, Don Elaine Zimmerman; daughters, Patricia Zimmerman and Sheila (Bruce) Robertson both of Tomah, stepdaughter, AnnaMae (Terry) Tralmer of Tomah and stepson, Lamont (Dilynn) Kiefer of Tomah; grandchildren Zachary Ewing, Averie Robertson, Dustin (Rebecca) Robertson, Rhys Robertson, Chad (special friend, Sheri) Tralmer, Jami Tralmer and Michael Wellnitz; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Elsie Peterson of La Crosse, Wis.; a brother, Fritz (Dorothy) Zimmerman of Mesa, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Neva Zimmerman of Minot, N.D.; his first wife, Phillis (Richards) Zimmerman of Tomah; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Augusta; siblings Frieda Draak, William Zimmerman, Hertha Gruen, Otto Zimmerman, Bernhardt “Benny” Zimmerman and three other siblings who died during their childhood; and a grandson, Joel Tralmer.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, 11 a.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tomah. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah and again on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Memorials in memory of Augie may be given to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the Tomah Fire Department. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements."