Lorraine Ziegler

Lorraine Frieda (Weidemann) Ziegler, age 93, of Perham, Minnesota died quietly at 12:04 p.m. on June 1, 2021 at Perham Living, which was her home for the past three years. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 4 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Perham. Visitation will resume from 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 1:30 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery.

Mom was born on January 14, 1928 in Evergreen Township, to her loving parents, Fredrick Weidemann and Christine (Jorgenson) Weidemann.

She grew up on the family farm in Evergreen Township with her parents and five siblings. She attended the Palmer School district 53-2 through 8th grade. Mom said she had to walk a mile and a quarter to school and of course, uphill all the way. She said they had a large class of about 45 to 50 students. With only one teacher, the students had to help by sweeping the floor, wiping the chalkboards, and pumping and carrying in water from outside. I am sure there was some firewood hauling involved as well, but maybe only for the boys.

Mom started working at the Perham Creamery when she was 18 years old. She had to go to Fergus Falls to get the necessary certification to be a cream tester. Her job was putting a sample of milk in a jar, add a little acid and water, put it in the test machine, and wait for the reading to show the amount of butter fat. She started at 75 cents per hour, which was good wages right after World War II.

Mom said she was living in Perham at that time and walked to work. On one of her morning walks she noticed this fine-looking young man in a military uniform. Each day she would walk by and try to get this young man’s attention; and she finally did. She married Archie Ziegler on February 7, 1947 and that good looking young solider, who finally noticed her, shared the ups and downs of life together until he passed away on June 5, 1989 …Too soon according to mom.

Archie and Lorraine lived in Perham and raised two children, Alan and Joyce. They spent many great years together fishing, spending time with friends and family and traveling. I still remember the Memorial Day parades where mom and dad would march representing Perham VFW and the picnics afterwards.  It was always too cold to swim, but we gave it a try anyway.

After she retired, Mom worked part time at the Perham Hardee’s. On snow days, the Perham Police would pick her up and drive her to work to make certain they could get their biscuits. Although mom worked her whole life as a cook, at the Perham Egg Plant for many years, and then at Tuffy’s, she was always there if you needed a shoulder to cry on or share a funny moment.

Mom found time for volunteer work and hobbies. Mom was a 50-year plus lifetime member of the Perham VFW and was president of the Perham VFW Ladies Auxiliary for three years. She loved to bake and cook and one of her favorite pastimes was cratering meals at the VFW.

Mom was also active at her church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Perham. She went in Fridays to help put the bulletins together for Sunday Service and helped serve refreshments after weddings and funerals. She also visited the Perham nursing home on Wednesdays to help wheelchair bound residents to communion. She often joked that she was pushing residents younger than herself.

One of her hobbies was quilting so she became a member of the church’s quilting club and helped make quilts for the needy. Of course, she made sure that her kids and grandchildren got quilts as well. I can still see material from some of mom’s dresses in quilts given to grandchildren, great-grandchildren.

Other hobbies included embroidering and crocheting. She would embroider pillowcases and dish towels showing off her handwork; a real treasure for us who are still lucky to have them. She also crocheted baby blankets for her grandchildren, made many dolls out of beads, and crocheted baby clothes for dolls.

One of her favorite pastimes was playing cards with friends and family, especially her sisters, Ida, Hattie and Darlene. They liked to play partners and every once and awhile their tempers would flare up; they were sisters of course.

Mom is survived by her two children, Alan (Laurie) Ziegler of Pomona, Missouri, and Joyce (Gerald) McGowan of Smithfield, Virginia. Lorraine also leaves behind four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law Betty (Joseph) Spano of Minneapolis, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie Ziegler; her brother George Weidemann; and her sisters, Annie Rux, Ida Carstens, Hattie Wanderi, and Darlene Lubitz.

Mom lived a very rich, full life of loving and giving. Her love for her family was constant and unshakable and she gave of herself to them wholly and without reservation. She loved her many friends, her community, and her church, and gave fully to them. After these many years of love and service to her family, friends, community, and church, Mom can now rest. She is alive in our hearts and reunited with loved ones in the presence of her Lord.

A special thanks to all of mom’s family and friends who shared life with her. She truly loved each and every one of you.

And a very special thanks to two wonderful groups of professionals. First, the Perham Living and the Harvest Glen staff, who took such good care of Mom and made her a part of their family. Second, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the dedicated members of the Blue Team at Hospice of the Red River Valley who worked tirelessly, with compassion and determination to provide comfort for Mom. We can never repay you for all the kindness and the care you showed someone so dear to us.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com

Lorraine's Memorial Folder