Mary Hilgendorf Zahringer

Mary Hilgendorf Zahringer (Nee Swan), 87, of Tomahawk, WI, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 24, 1937, on the family farm in Harrison township. Her parents were Cornelius (Casey) and Mary (Dirkx) Swan. Mary was the 5th child of 7 in the family.

Mary attended Harrison Grade School and graduated from Tomahawk High School in 1955. She worked at Tomahawk Power and Pulp and for Attorney Ralph Theiler until she married her high school sweetheart, Darwin Hilgendorf, on October 20, 1956. They had two sons, Joseph and Arthur Hilgendorf, and a baby son Brian.

After Darwin’s death on July 26, 1964, she was employed as Cashier at Wisconsin Public Service for 26 ½ years. On December 27, 1974, she married Joe Zahringer, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2024. Mary and Joe were members of St. Mary Parish for the entire time. She served the parish and a Religious Education Teacher, Eucharistic Minister, and Money Counter for many years. After retirement, she was Chairperson of the Tomahawk Emergency Food Pantry for 10 years.

Mary enjoyed playing cards, playing Aggravation (no mercy!), knitting, putting jigsaw puzzles together, reading scripture, and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and following the Brewers and Packers. Mary and Joe traveled through most of the 50 states and took several cruises with Mary’s sisters and they visited Holland and many relatives there.

Mary’s greatest joy was in her family with her 7 grandchildren: Kacey (Keegan) Olson, Jamie (Nick) Hallas, Dan (Tracy) Hilgendorf, Wendi Latzig, Rick (Brittany) Hilgendorf, Lynn (Tyler) Moe, and Steve Phillips, and her 16 great-grandchildren: Carter, Laila, and Levi Olson, Erustus, Torah, Isaiah, Faith, Eliana, and Ethan Hallas, Darwin and Brooks Hilgendorf, Ronin Hilgendorf, Tucker and Ryan Moe, and Isabele and Isaac Latzig.

Mary is survived by her husband, Joe Zahringer, sons, Joe (Pam) Hilgendorf and Arthur (Lisa) Hilgendorf, one sister, Bernadine Vandervest, one brother, Eugene (Ginny) Swan, and one sister-in-law, Corinne (Pete) Swan. She is further survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews; she remembered each one and sent them cards on their birthdays.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Mary Swan; spouse Darwin Hilgendorf, brothers, Pete and John Swan, sisters, Frances Mabee and Agnes Bernhardt, daughter-in-law, Beth Hilgendorf, sister-in-law, Bettie Swan, and brother-in-law, Jim Mabee, Larry Vandervest, and Sam Bernhardt.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tomahawk with Fr. Alyosius Royan Anthony officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to time of service at 11:00. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Harrison.

Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.nimsgernfuneral.com

Krueger-Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family.