Olga Zipp, age 99, of Tomahawk, formerly of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Golden Living Center – Riverview in Tomahawk.
She was born on June 19, 1914, one of 11 children born to Matthew and Lena (Boettcher) Jirovec. On April 26, 1932, she married Fred Zipp. He preceded her in death on July 25, 1993.
Olga was raised on a Town of Pine River dairy farm and a very proud graduate of the one room Brick Yard school, now on display at the Lincoln Co. fairgrounds. At age 12, she started cutting her father’s hair and that of many other men that worked as loggers in the winter months. She also cut her brother’s hair, along with her son’s hair and many of their friends. This was something that she continued to do well into her 80’s. She was a former member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Merrill, where she was head cook for the hot lunch program until she retired. After Fred’s retirement, they moved to their Lake Alice home in Tomahawk, where they enjoyed watching wildlife, fishing, raising honey bees and making maple syrup. In her younger years, you could find her working in their large garden. Their homes were always a gathering place for relatives and friends. Olga was an excellent cook and all of their friends and relatives liked to stay and eat. Fred and Olga were in a bowling league for many years and were very active in the Eagles Club in Merrill, Olga twice being president of the Ladies Auxillary.
Olga is survived by her seven children; Robert (Bob) Zipp, Tomahawk; Phil (Caroline) Zipp, Tomahawk; Glenn (Julie) Zipp, Peoria, IL; Marge (Phillip) Kamke, Merrill; Larry (Mary) Zipp, Niagara, WI; Patrick (Linda) Zipp, Green Bay, WI; Debby (Tim) Symonds, Tomahawk; 19 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Venita (Carlen) Stevens, Merrill; one sister-in-law, Erma Neumann, Wausau, and many nieces and nephews. Olga was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one grandchild; one great-grandchild and nine of her brothers and sisters.
The family of Olga Zipp would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Riverview Nursing Home for the wonderful care that they extended to her. Olga considered them to be part of her family. We would also like to thank Father John Anderson and his staff for taking care of her spiritual needs with such caring compassion.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Olga will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tomahawk, with Father John Anderson officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Waid Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Legacy Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.waidfuneral.com.