Marlene Zuelke

Marlene L. Zuelke, age 87, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026, at her residence.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. Pastor Dennis Schwalenberg will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at church. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Marlene was born on January 30, 1939, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to Frederick and Florence Keil. She grew up as a farm girl in Beaver Dam before attending Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and began her career as a nurse at Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital before later working at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids and later as the In-service Director at Edgewater Haven Nursing home in Port Edwards.

On October 8, 1960, Marlene was united in marriage to Jerry Zuelke at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. In October 2025, she and Jerry celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Marlene enjoyed attending antique auctions with her husband, Jerry, where she especially enjoyed collecting cow creamers, fruit plates and books. Marlene was an avid reader and a great cook. She was known for her Holiday baking and enjoyed making dozens upon dozens of Christmas cookies with her Granddaughters. She constantly supported and cheered on her three sons in their sports from grade school through high school as well as their future endeavors in college and beyond. Above all, she treasured time spent with her family, particularly her Grandchildren, and delighted in traveling east, south and west to visit them. She was active in church and bible study groups throughout her lifetime and was a long-time and active member of the Women in Mission (WIM) group at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Marlene also served others by delivering Meals on Wheels for 20 years.

Marlene is survived by her husband, Jerry Zuelke of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; sons: Kurt (Deb Welke) Zuelke of College Station, TX, Craig (Jane) Zuelke of Prescott, WI, and Karl (Paige) Zuelke of Liberty, MO; grandchildren: Helen (Connor) Smythe, Erich (Jordin) Zuelke, Audrey Zuelke, Alyssa Zuelke, and Katrina (Dylan) Stockman; great grandchild: William Smythe; brothers: David (Sharon) Keil and Robert (Mary) Keil; sisters: Margaret (Donald) Schweiger, and Marcia Eckmayer; sisters-in-law: Carol Zuelke and Mary Zuelke. She is also survived by her close friends Nancy Drager, Gloria Brody, and Sandra Staats and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Florence (Birkholz) Keil; father and mother-in-law: Elmer and Selda (Henne) Zuelke; brothers-in-law: Elmer Zuelke, Eugene Zuelke and John Eckmayer.

Marlene held her confirmation memory verse close to her heart as a guiding star in life:

"Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Col. 3:17