Obituaries & Guestbook

Susan “Sue” Zima, 71, Stiles, went peacefully into the arms of her Savior Saturday, April 1, 2023 at home with her husband and daughter at her side after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Her life was marked by service to our country as a Navy corpsman, to her patients as a registered dietitian, and to her family as a wife, mother and Grammy.

Sue was born May 4, 1951 in Green Bay to Herbert and Shirley (Caldie) Seeman. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1969 and entered the US Navy, becoming a hospital corpsman and then a neuropsychiatric tech at the US Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. Following her honorable discharge from the military she earned a degree in nutrition at UWGB and became a registered dietitian working at Bellin Hospital.  She met her future husband through the UWGB Veterans Club. On May 28, 1983 she married Ronald Zima at St. Willebrord Catholic Church in Green Bay.  They would have celebrated their 40th anniversary next month. They had two children and moved to Madison where Sue was a devoted stay-at-home mother and supportive military wife. When her children reached school-age, she opened a licensed home daycare and later became the office manager at the dance studio where her daughter took lessons.  Their move to Stiles, WI fulfilled her dream of living on the water.

Sue was an avid crafter who liked sewing, cross-stitch and documenting family memories in one-of-a-kind scrapbooks.  Her beautiful handmade greeting cards were created with love and brought joy to all who received them. Her love of “Up North” began with childhood trips to the family cabin, continued by introducing Ron to camping, and lives on through the traditions she taught her grandchildren. She loved sending Ron and the kids out fishing while she enjoyed reading a good book in the tranquility of a smoky campfire. Each spring she looked forward to planting her vegetable garden and especially loved eating the fresh tomatoes. She was an excellent cook and loved hosting large family gatherings. She was a member of St. Patrick Parish and her faith was very important to her.  Sue was loved by many people and the world will not be the same without her in it.

Sue is survived by her loving husband, Ronald; their two children, Tony (fiancé Laurie Slesar) and Cassie (Tyler) Churchill; three grandchildren Leopold, Windsor and Sterling Churchill; siblings Mike (Patti) Seeman, Julie (Terry) Vertz, Dan Seeman, Lori (Rick) Counihan and Beth Seeman; in-laws Maury Elsner, Daryl (Joy) Zima, Lynn Zima and Lori (Jim Halliday) Borowitz; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, Anton and Eleanor Zima.

Visitation will be held after 4:00 PM Monday, April 10, 2023 at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls until a 7:00 PM prayer service. Visitation will continue after 9:30 AM Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Stiles until the time of service. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Fr. Walter Stumpf officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the parish cemetery.