Joan Ann (nee Van Engen) Zimmermann, 93, of Kohler, was called home Monday, November 24, 2025, while residing at Waterford CBRF in Plymouth.
Joan was born February 6, 1932, at home to Jacob and Inez (nee Daharsh) Van Engen. She attended Sheboygan Falls Public Schools and graduated in 1950. While in high school, Joan worked as a candy striper at St. Nicholas Hospital, at the Lakeland Canning Company and at H.C. Prange Company in Sheboygan. During that time she met her future husband, Conrad Zimmermann at the Playdium in Sheboygan, where they loved to dance. On her high school graduation night, Conrad proposed and they were married December 29, 1951, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls. She joined Conrad while he was stationed in Anchorage Alaska during the Korean War, where their eldest son Michael was born in 1953. After discharge, they came back to Sheboygan County.
Joan devoted the rest of her life raising seven children, with her final pregnancy surprising them with twins. She maintained an immaculate home and enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking. No matter who stopped by, they were sure to be fed. Outside the home, Joan was an avid bowler where she maintained an 158 average and won top bowler. In her later years, Joan’s greatest joy was having her 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Joan is survived by her children; son, Michael (Peggy Entringer) Zimmermann of Kohler and their children, Todd (Jennifer) Zimmermann, Kelly (Bill) DeAmico, and Traci (Skyler) Hill; daughter, Debra (Larry) Heinen of Sheboygan Falls and their children, Nicholas Heinen, Jennifer (JJ) Gebler, and Christopher (Rachel) Heinen; daughter, Jody (Mark) LaPean of Sheboygan Falls and their children, Timothy (Kari) LaPean, Matthew (Samantha) LaPean, and Michelle (Hans) Van Koningsveld; son, Gregory (Debbie Plate) Zimmermann of Sheboygan Falls and their children, Steven (Jennifer) Pierce, and Jason Pierce; son, Mark (Jennifer Weber) Zimmermann of Kohler and their children, Erika (Trent) Kaat, and Jacob Zimmermann; twin daughter, Kristi (Russ) Horneck of Kiel and their children, Justin, Kaitlyn, and Rachel Horneck; and twin daughter, Kari (David) Wimmer of Kohler and their children, Abigail, and Haven Wimmer; great-grandchildren, Nicole, Carter, and Mason Zimmermann; Tyler, Collin, and Natalie DeAmico; Madison Hill, and Micahla Reimath; Gavin and Bryce Gebler; Maverick and Wyatt LaPean; Reid, Marley and Drake LaPean; Luke Hackney, Ezekiel, Andrew and Isaiah VanKoningsveld; Connor and Evan Pierce, Ava Sternhagen and Sam Pierce. She is further survived by sisters Kathleen (Richard) Kettner and Judy Frank; sisters-in-law Gloria Van Engen Lorenz, Jeanette Van Engen and Beverly Van Engen and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband Conrad; brothers Gerhardt “Jerry” Van Engen, Richard “Dickie” Van Engen, Daniel “Demo” Van Engen; sisters Virginia (Fred) Boetcher, and Mary Lou (Eugene) Beeck; brothers-in-law Wayne Frank and Donald (Shirley) Zimmermann; sister-in-law Ruth (Jerry) Sneider and half-brother-in-law Raymond Scheffler.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, December 6, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls with Pastor Adam Wolfe officiating. Visitation will be at church on Saturday at 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Joan will be laid to rest at Woodland Cemetery in Kohler. All are welcome to view the livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/DFnvt1KKTZE?si=FuoZZ9kpnzBM05UK
Questions about services or live streaming call 920-743-5635.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joan’s memory to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls. The family would like to thank the care team of Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County and Aurora Health at Home Hospice. A very special thank you to the staff of The Waterford at Plymouth for their compassionate and loving care for the past three years.
Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay, WI are caring for Joan and her family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joan may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.
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