Mildred ""Millie"" Tierney

Mildred ""Millie"" (Zeier) Tierney

Waunakee/Sun Prairie

Mildred (Zeier) Tierney passed away peacefully at the McCloskey Home in Sun Prairie on Sunday, July 17, 2011.

The youngest of four (Johanna, Clarence, Herbert), Millie was born July 17, 1921 to Anton and Minnie (Bruns) Zeier on a farm in the town of Burke where she attended grade school. She went to high school at Madison East. After taking college prep courses, she went on to get a Bachelors degree in teaching at UW Whitewater.

Millie taught at Black Woods School on Oncken Road. She met her husband James (Jim) Tierney at one of the many dances she attended with her cousins. They were married June 1,1943.

They farmed in the Town of Westport where they raised 9 children. When the children were young, she started an egg route that included Maple Bluff and the Governor's Mansion.

Millie loved reading and children. She had an enthusiasm for teaching and cherished the opportunity to teach her children and many beloved nieces and nephews the value of hard work. When her own children were older, she went back to teaching and taught 3 generations of students in the Waunakee Schools.

She took great pride in her amazing gardens that exceeded several acres. She always planted enough to can for her home and more to give to family, friends and neighbors.

She was a faithful member of St. Mary of the Lake Church in Westport, serving many roles. She taught First Communion classes, served on the Parish Council, and spent many hours working for the Country Fair making fruit cakes.

She also enjoyed traveling with Jim and her sister, Johanna. Her travels included Mexico, Europe, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, and many other states in the U.S.

In her later years, Millie continued to be an avid reader and joined a book club. She continued to garden and volunteered at the Waunakee elementary school helping many children with their reading skills.

She especially enjoyed spending time with her 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children: James (Barbara) of Arlington, Raymond (Mary) of Mazomanie, Jean (David) Braithwaite of Madison, Don (Joanne) of DeForest, , Mary Tierney (Tim Otis) of Madison, Virginia (Matt) Lerner of Hudson, Ohio, Maggie (Steve) Voit of Conifer, Colorado, and Kathy (Michael) Jach of Yakima, Washington, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Gertrude Zeier, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, a son Robert and a daughter Barbara, and siblings, Johanna Bollig, Clarence and Herb Zeier.

Funeral services will be held on Thurs. July 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St John's Catholic Church 209 South St Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Thurs from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place at St Mary of the Lake Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

The family would like to thank Hospice Care, the Waunakee Manor Assisted Living, Millie's nieces, and many friends and caregivers, especially Millie's dear friend and caregiver Donna Ripp, all who helped make the last years of her life, full and happy. A special thank you to childhood friend, Sid Stolen for your wonderful letters each week - we read and re-read them to Mother. Lastly, we will be eternally grateful to Patty McCloskey (Cassandra and Autumn) of the McCloskey Adult Family Home for the loving, patient, and excellent care you gave Millie during her last year of life. Especially heart warming and appreciated was the continuous and loving attention Patti provided through Millie's last night, thanks one and all.

In lieu of flowers a memorial will be designated by the family at a later time.