Zatha D. Walter, nee Welch, 99, went to her Heavenly Home on Monday, February 1, 2016 at her daughter Susan’s house in Iron Ridge.
She was born on January 9, 1917 in Dana, Iowa to the late Charles Earl Welch and Susie Maude (nee Truesdale) Welch. The family later moved to Jefferson Iowa where she attended Jefferson High School, where she took Home Economics and discovered her love of cooking, recipes, and cook books. She also enjoyed singing in a special choir. She graduated from Jefferson High School in May 1935 at the age of 17.
Zatha’s first job was as a secretary for a doctor, where she met the love of her life, Elon “Zeke” Walter. They fell in love and married on April 5, 1937. They enjoyed spending time together riding on their Harley-Davidson and starting their lives and family together.
Zatha next worked for a lawyer for a few years until her husband’s job relocated them to Stevens Point, WI in July of 1943. They stayed on the Stevens Point area raising their family until her husband was transferred to manage another plant in Mayville, WI in 1963.
In 1972, Zatha and Zeke relocated to Berlin, WI and after Zeke’s retirement, they moved back to the Mayville area to spend their retirement there. They were married 61 years when her beloved husband, Zeke, died of pancreatic cancer on April 22, 1998. Zatha then spent seven years in an apartment in Mayville. At the age of 87, she went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and William Keller, Jr.
Zatha enjoyed collecting recipes and cook books. She also enjoyed Red Hat outings, search-a-word puzzles and playing solitaire. Most of all she loved spending time with her family.
Zatha is survived by her six children, Nancy (Walter) Peterson of Stevens Point, WI, George (Anita) Walter of Stevens Point, WI, Eddie (Diana) Walter of Plover, WI, Marion “Salty” (Aggie) Walter of Mayville, WI, Susan (William) Keller, Jr. of Iron Ridge, WI, and Linda (Jack) Eickendorf of Stevens Point, WI; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Zatha was preceded in death by her sister Isabel Welch Fagan, her brother, Buck Welch, a granddaughter, Julie Ann Varga in 1965, a grandson, Richard Varga in 2013, and a nephew, John Welch in 2015.
Funeral services in remembrance of Zatha will be held on Saturday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home, 15 S. Walnut St., Mayville. Rev. Larry Mose of St. Matthew Lutheran Church will officiate and burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Mayville. The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Memorials to Hillside Hospice (709 S. University Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916) are appreciated.
Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Zatha’s arrangements. More information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com