Joseph R. Ziembo

1953-2019

Joseph R. Ziembo, age 66, of Rib Lake, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. The visitation for Joe will take place on Jan. 4, 2020 from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Memorial Mass at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 513 State Road 102, Rib Lake. Father Hrudaya Raju Sunkara will be officiating. Immediately following the Memorial Mass, there will be a Celebration of Joe’s life at Zondlo’s Bar, located at W2407 State Road 102, Rib Lake.

Joe was born in Rib Lake on June 13, 1953, to Raymond J. and Helen M. (Maslonka) Ziembo. He grew up in Rib Lake where he attended Clearview Grade School and was a 1972 graduate of Rib Lake High School. He first worked on the Ziembo Homestead, helping Ray and Helen and all nine siblings on the farm located on Hwy. 102 in Rib Lake. He began his employment at Weather Shield and worked there from 1972 until 1977. In 1977 Joe purchased the family farm on Fawn Avenue in Rib Lake and owned and operated it until recently.

Joe loved nature, and farming. He enjoyed working the fields in the spring and milking the cows, also harvesting his crops in the summer and fall. He would work day and night to get the crops in on time and took great pride in having his land looking the best.

He was united in marriage to Rhonda Fallos on May 12, 1990. When winter came, that meant one thing, “Snowmobiling”! It was his love of sledding that met his wife of over thirty years, Rhonda. When winter arrived, he was gone every chance he had to “ride his sled”. Joe was the founder of the “2:30 Club” and anyone who knew him, knew what that meant. He shared his love of farming and snowmobiling with his children and they enjoyed riding the trails as much as Joe. He and his youngest Emily, shared an extraordinary bond and love of farming and snowmobiling, watching out for each other at all times.

Joe’s love for his family and friends was shown by his willingness to help anyone in need, even if he had chores to do, snow to plow, or animals to tend to.

He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake, the Spirit Lake Northwoods Riders and the Interwald Wanderers Snowmobile Club.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Rhonda; mother, Helen; children, Jaclyn (Adam) Zuleger, Gregory (Laurie) Ziembo, Amy (Rick) Roggenbuck and Emily Ziembo; three granddaughters, Alinah Jo Ziembo, Raelyn Waszkiewicz and Quinn Zuleger; two goddaughters, Carrie Rinehart and Jina Higgins. Also surviving are his brothers and sisters, Mary Ellen (Mike) Thums, Patty (Jerry) Strebig, Susan (Phil) Marthaler, John (Jolene) Ziembo, Barbara (Rick) Berger, Bob Ziembo, JoAnn (Jim) Wilke, Mike (Linda) Ziembo and Judy Ziembo. Joe is further survived by many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Ziembo; father-in-law, Claude Fallos; sister-in-law, Sandy Ziembo and granddaughter, Marcella Marie Zuleger.

Honorary pallbearers will be all the members of the 2:30 Club.

Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists is serving the family, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, 715-365-4343. You are invited to light a candle, sign the guestbook, leave a photo or an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com Paid Obituary 83402