Antoinette F. Zemke

Antoinette “Toni” F. Zemke, age 82, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, October 15, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Antoinette was born on October 31, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Benedict and Harriet (Przywarski) Szarzynski. On August 31, 1991, she married her Best Friend, Gary Zemke, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marathon. Together, they built a beautiful life, and cherished 35 years of marriage filled with love and devotion.

Antoinette’s greatest joys in life were her family and her Catholic faith, both of which were at the heart of everything she did. She devoted 25+ years to serving as the director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She also shared her faith as a teacher in the parish’s Faith Formation program years prior. Her dedication to her church and her faith touched the lives of many.

Through the years she enjoyed many hobbies, some of which included quilting and sewing for her family, crosswords with her sister Claudia, reading, watching movies with her husband (she especially loved The Chosen series), cooking and baking with family, and numerous types of trivia games. But most importantly, she had a wonderful way of letting her family members know just how much she loved and cared for each and every one of them. Her children often joked around about being "Mom’s favorite”, but her answer was always, “My favorite child is the one who needs the most prayers that day!”

Antoinette is survived by her beloved husband, Gary; children: Sandy (Rob) Ahles, Kathy (Greg) Peterson, Dennis (Susan) Stieber, Allen (Lori) Stieber, Diana (Paul) Michlig; stepdaughters: Rachel Dartels and Karin Zemke; sister, Gloria Lichtenwalter; brother-in-law, Robert Kech; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; nephew, Micheal Kech; and many other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Benedict and Harriet (Przywarski) Szarzynski; sisters: Claudia Kech, Joan Marcus; brother, Medard Schronski; sister-in-law, Rita Schronski; and brother-in-law, Curtis Lichtenwalter, and three nephews.

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 712 Market St, Marathon City. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will preside. A rosary service will begin at 9:20 a.m. followed by visitation until the time of Mass at church. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s parish cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.