Veronica (Verna) Ziesemer – She Loved Her Family     

A woman may change many times in her life and yet devote herself to one true path. Born in hard times in Kenosha, Wisconsin on January 13, 1929 to Joseph and Julia Lukawski, Verna’s life seemed destined to repeat the difficult path taken by so many other children of the Great Depression. But it was her marvelous fortune to have been taken under the wing of the first great love of her life, her sister Harriett. Verna effectively had two mothers and this began a love of family that continued throughout her life. Her childhood was full of the joys and sorrows of the adventures of her sister as well as her brothers Ed, and Joe, Richard and Steve. Fortune continued to smile on Verna as she enjoyed a loving childhood in the parish of St. Casmir Catholic Church in Kenosha and later volunteered many hours to the Church. She dreamed of music and nursing as a girl and her scholarship and interest were rewarded with a scholarship to St. Catherine High School in Racine, a true mixed blessing as she had to travel daily by electric trolley the 10 miles between home and school. But such is the fortune of life that dreams may change and World War Two opened new roads for Verna and while her older brothers and sister joined the war effort both in Kenosha and overseas, she became a nurse’s aide while still in high school and eventually joined her sister working at Coopers Company which became Jockey Menswear in Kenosha. Yet another family was created, this time of good friends and co-workers. And it was through this new family that she me the one true “Best Pal” of her life, her husband Raymond. Over the next 58 years and by and through her children Tom and Peggy, their spouses Jim Gombar and Brandy Ziesemer and mountain of in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews and nearly countless co-workers, friends and acquaintances, Verna enriched her great love of family. Even during their own hard times and seemingly endless bouts of illnesses, she and Raymond endured through love and respect. They enjoyed the Kenosha Yacht Club and Verna loved to Polka, cook Polish dinners and bake with her grandchildren. Her heart swelled along with her family as grandchildren Katharina (Nicholas) VanAsten, Jacklyn Gombar, Kristen Gombar and Alexander (Megan) Ziesemer gave her years and years of joy in her retirement, giving her the title of “Supergrandma.” Indeed she was fortunate to welcome two great-grandchildren, Sawyer Ray and Morgan Rae VanAsten into her life before she rejoined Raymond and was taken into the supreme family of heaven on June 14, 2012.

Private family services were held. Entombment in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. Online condolences welcome at www.PfotenhauerFuneralHome.com

Special thanks to the staff at Good Shepherd Services in Seymour, WI for incredible kindnesses and all of their love.

PFOTENHAUER Funeral Homes & Cremation Services  (920) 434-2060

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