Born Feb. 23, 1939 in Peshtigo, to Alvin and Emily (Hartwig) Tonn, she attended Red Grade School in Harmony, graduated from Peshtigo High School in 1957 and then from Accredited School of Beauty Culture in Green Bay in 1958.
She worked at Vanity Fair in Clintonville and married Edward Zahn on April 18, 1959. They resided one year in rural Coleman before moving to County Line where they lived for 31 years before moving to Oconto in 1987. She had worked part-time in beauty salons in Pound, Peshtigo and Oconto until 1978 when she began working at Eagle Printing Co. until retiring in 2004.
She served 10 years as secretary of the Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Oconto City Council for 11 years, was charter member of the Oconto Jaycettes and served on the Wisconsin State Board of Jaycettes for one year. She was a member of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Peshtigo.
She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and crocheting.
Survivors include two sons, Gary (Jolene) of Oconto and David Zahn of rural Coleman; two daughters, Patti (Jim) Henrickson of Dallas, Tx. and Lori (Scott) Plach, of Appleton; six grandchildren; two step-grandsons; two brothers, Duane (Sandy) of Lake Geneva and Terry (Kathy) of Galesville; two sisters, Karen (Brian) Toole and Diane, both of Oconto; three brothers-in-law, Charles (Linda) Zahn of McGregor, Ia., Rev. Larry (Judy) of Crossville, Tn. and Ron (Brenda) of Phoenix, Az.; two sisters-in-law, Linda Zahn of Elkhorn and Dennise Hunt of Grove City, Oh. and many nieces and nephews.
Including her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward in 2013; two brothers, Richard and Keith and a brother-in-law, Rev. Allen Zahn.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Zion Lutheran Church in Peshtigo from noon until time of services at 1 p.m. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Grover. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her memory. Berth and Rosenthal Funeral Home of Peshtigo is assisting the family with arrangements.