Melane Mary Zietlow

Melane M. Zietlow, 98, of the Town of Alban passed peacefully into Eternal Rest at St. Claire's Hospital, Weston, surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Melane was born May 25, 1927, in Rosholt, WI, daughter to the late Aleas and Bertha (Stanislawski) Simonis. She grew up in rural Rosholt and attended the local schools including the Simonis School and Rosholt High School.

On May 21, 1949, she was united in marriage to Gordon Zietlow of rural Iola at St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in Rosholt. They shared 55 years together until his passing on October 26, 2002. Melane worked at Hardware Mutual Insurance in Stevens Point, then in Milwaukee when the couple moved to Menomonee Fallls. They moved to Gordon's family farm near Big Falls in August 1960, where they raised seven children together. Melane moved back to Rosholt after Gordon passed to be close to her surviving siblings.

Melane was a 4-H leader for many years, an avid birdwatcher, talented seamstress, and well-known local artist, with many commissioned oil paintings and awards received. Gordon and Melane enjoyed traveling, playing cards, polka dancing and singing.

Melane is survived by daughter Mary (Rodney) Wolf, son Charles (Betsy) Zietlow, daughter Karen Green, son Don (Tanya) Zietlow, daughter Laurie (James) Gruber, son-in-law James (Karen) Schultz, and Melanie (Rick) Flees.

She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Wayne Wolf, Gordon (Pascha) Zietlow, Rhett (Maryna) Zietlow, Wesley (Lacey) Zietlow, Carl Zietlow, Terri (Jeff) Meehan, Jean (James) Dunbar, Emily (Travis) Dreier, Jacob Zietlow, Julaine (Derek) Mathison, and Amanda Flees.

She is further survived by eleven great-grandchildren: Megan Wolf, Gracie and Brodie Zietlow, Rylan, Mayson, and Adalyn Zietlow, Mirielle Zietlow, Pearl and Sophie Lowell, Auron, Elijiah, and Jessie Dreier, and Joshua Zietlow, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Melane was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Charles and Laura (Dybdahl) Zietlow, husband Gordon, daughter Julie (James) Schultz, and grandsons Dirk Wolf and Jason Schultz.

She was also preceded in death by sister and brother-in law Henrietta and Frank Kosobucki, sister and brother-in-law Sylvia and Don Sullivan, sister and brother-in-law Evelyn and Ben Richter, brother Joe Simonis, brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Florence (Burant) Simonis, brother and sister-in-law William and Lorraine (Kruzicki) Simonis, brother and sister-in-law Fritz and Beatrice (Lorbiecki) Simonis, brother-in-law Russel Dybdahl, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Cleo (Dybdahl) and Norman Jeffries, sisters-in-law Lucile and Lorraine Dybdahl, brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Lila (Aasen) Aanstad along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Father Francis X. Dias officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church cemetery, Marion, at a later date. Visitation will be held at Voie Funeral Home in Iola on Friday, May 1 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00, and at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service.

The family would like to extend a thank you to the medical staff at both Aspirus - St. Michael's Hospital, Stevens Point and Marshfield Medical Center - St. Claire's Hospital, Weston, for their compassionate care as well as Voie Funeral Home for assisting the family. A special thank you to Father William Evans of St. Mary's Catholic Oratory, Wausau, Father Jerome Patric Maria-Francis of St. Agnas Catholic Church, Weston, Father Augustine Bentil of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Galloway, Reverand Marshall Falks, Hope Community Church, Clintonville, and the good Chaplain at St. Claire's Hospital for the prayers and blessing to help Melane on her journey to Everlasting Peace.