Julia Eileen Zahn, 89, known to family and friends as Eileen, of St. Germain, formerly of Merrill, died Sept. 5, 2010, at Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua.
Eileen was born Sept. 11, 1920, in Brayton, NE, daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Foster) Murphy. She married Stanley Zahn on Feb. 11, 1946. He preceded her in death on May 12, 1976. After graduating from high school at age 16, she moved with her best friend and sister, Ruth to Rawlins, WY, where her career in communications began as a telephone operator. Eileen, a veteran of WWII joined the Navy with her sister Ruth and her brother George. Interestingly enough, the three of them all met and married people from Merrill. Eileen received her training at Hunter College in New York City. She achieved the rank of Radioman Petty Officer Third Class, and was stationed at Treasure Island California. She met the love of her life, Stanley, in San Francisco, CA while they were both in US Navy. As Stanley loved to say, “She chased me down Market Street until I caught her.” After her marriage, she moved to Merrill where she continued her career as a telephone operator and began her family. After her husband died, Eileen worked in the Lincoln County Clerk’s office until her retirement. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church of Merrill and attended Our Lady Queen of the Universe in Woodruff.
She was the loving mother of seven daughters and two sons. She is survived by Mary (Marvin) Doering, St. Germain, WI; Diane Henson, Los Angeles, CA; Gerald Zahn, Los Angeles, CA; Rosalie (Terry) Roberts, Klamath Falls, OR; Theresa (Allen) Ovsak, Pensacola, FL; Ronnie Zahn, St. Germain, WI; Dina Sterr (Kerry Millerick), Los Angeles, CA and Sheila (David) Saal, Merrill, WI. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Christopher Henson, Kevin Henson, Zara (Doering) Scharf, Kari Roberts, Noah Doering, Thomas Roberts, Ryan Sabatke, and Nichole (Sabatke) Miller, 12 great grandchildren, one brother, George Murphy of Canadian Lakes, MI, one sister, Kathleen Newton of Eugene, OR and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Thomas, and by four sisters and three brothers.
Eileen’s interests included traveling, snowmobiling, sewing, baking, and knitting. She attended vocational school in Merrill to pursue these and many of her other interests. One of her favorite pastimes was playing word and board games with her children and grandchildren. Eileen was also was a great story teller. She loved to share with her children the many stories of her Nebraska childhood.
The funeral will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 10, 2010, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. Father Edward F. Powell will officiate. Burial will be at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Merrill, with graveside military rites conducted by V.F.W. Post 1638, Merrill. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday, and again after 9:00 A.M. Friday, all at the funeral home.
Donations or memorials can be made in her name memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.