Agnes Zander

Agnes Punke Zander, 91, formerly of Athens, died Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at Fair View Nursing Home in Mauston.Wisconsin.
Agnes was born November 19, 1920 to the late Paul and Margaret (Lehmann) Klimpke. She married Herman R Punke on April 15, 1939. Herman passed away in 1983. She later married Lawrence Zander on November 7, 1987. Agnes remembered Lawrence when she was a young girl in Athens, Lawrence and Agnes were blessed with many years together until his death on June 4, 2004.
Agnes grew up on the Klimpke family farm in Athens. After she and Herman were married they also farmed in the Athens area. Agnes played the church organ at United Church of Christ and Trinity Lutheran Church for a combined 30 years. Agnes was very active in the Johnson Homemakers Club where she developed lifelong friends. She also owned and operated the Cattleman's Club restaurant at the Stratford Equity Livestock Yard for 18 years. After her retirement, Agnes and Lawrence spent many winters in Leesburg, Florida where they enjoyed meeting many new "snow birds". Their summers were spent at the Zander cottage on Lake Arrowhead in Woodruff, Wisconsin where they spent many relaxing days entertaining family and guests. Agnes was a gifted cook who could put together a masterful meal in short order when guests would come to visit.
She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn (John) Sonnentag of Mount Dora, Florida, Gayle Ann (Kenneth) Wilcox of Mauston, WI and Janice (Patrick) MacGillis of Cedarburg, WI. Four step-children, Gerald (Betty) Zander, Plymouth, MN, William H Zander, Hamel, MN, Laura Ann (William) Wickham, Crosby, MN and Marilee (Norman) Buska who predeceased her. Agnes's siblings all predeceased her – Edmund (Edna) and LeRoy (Helen) Klimpke and Esther (Elmer) Baumann and Olga (Paul) Baumann. Sister-in-law, Mabel (Arnold) Punke, Edgar, WI survives.
Agnes loved the adventures and noted accomplishments of her 7 grandchildren; Tim (Rebecca) Sonnentag and Bill (Amanda) Sonnentag, Dr. Jane Wilcox (Erik) Lindberg and Mark (Sarah) Wilcox, LCDR Anne Marie (LCDR Robert) Laird, USN, LT Steven (Dr. Lily Workman) MacGillis, USN and Brian (Elizabeth) MacGillis. 10 great- grandchildren: John, Cameron, and Shane Sonnentag, Chloe, Tate, and Natalie Sonnentag, Clara Laird, Jack, Nathaniel and Charlotte MacGillis. Lawrence's family added to her heart 8 grandchildren: Naomi VanPrice, Rob Hilber, Jr. and Rachel Smaglick, deceased, Paul Zander and Lynn (Thor) Heimdahl, Sascha (Doug) Hunt and Whitney Zander, and Sarah (Chris) Lemm, 9 great grandchildren: Sarah Neuberger, Rosemary and Raymond Smaglick, Grace, Gabriel and Grant Heimdahl, Desziree and Wyatt Hunt and Colin Lemm and 3 great-great grandchildren: Corrin, Zamir and Molly Neuberger.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, 4710 N Troy St., Wausau. Officiating will be Reverend Dean Marin of Ascension Lutheran Church, Minocqua where Agnes and Larry were members. There will be a visitation from 9:00 AM until the time of service . You may sign our family guest book at helke.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran School, Athens, Wisconsin where her daughters all received a Christian education.
God's love in our lives always leaves us with perfect peace.