Ilene J. Zien

Ilene was born Jan. 22, 1930, in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Ill., to Lila Arneson.

She was raised until the age of two, by her Grandma Arneson, when she was reunited with her mother and adopted by Art Danielson Sr.

From first grade to eighth grade, she attended the Danielson School, a one-room school a mile from her home.

She was confirmed at Big Drywood Lutheran Church and graduated from Cadott High School in 1947.

After graduation, she worked at Mason Shoe, as a bookkeeper. Later that year, she met Donald “Don” Western, at a cousin’s wedding reception. Don and Ilene were married, June 18, 1949, at Big Drywood Lutheran Church. Together they had a son, Jim, and a daughter, Judy.

Throughout the years, she brought in 37 foster children under her care, while managing a farm and caring for her husband. After Don’s death, in 1975, she moved to Stanley, and worked as the hospital’s telephone operator and later, as office manager of the LaSalle Medical Center, for 14 years, until she retired.

Ilene met Allen Zien through mutual friends. They were married in 1981, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley. She moved to Hallie, where she and Al hosted many family and friend events at their home. They enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing cards and dancing together.

She once again cared for her husband, Al, until his death, in 2010. Ilene moved to Chippewa Falls, in 2018, and then to the LakeHouse, in 2023.

She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, and was involved with counting the offering, visiting homebound members, volunteering at Bethesda and serving funeral lunches. She was a member of the VFW in Cadott, Hallie Seniors UCT and the Moose Club in Chippewa Falls.

Throughout her life, she was amazingly strong and resilient. Faith, family and friends supported her through her journey. She was known for her hospitality and wanting to feed all who visited. Ilene enjoyed keeping current with family happenings and logging newspaper clippings, letters and pictures into binders for review.

Throughout her life, she yearned to find her father. Two sisters, Florence “Flo” Klemp and Cathy Brown, were found in 2013, through ancestry research. Since their meeting, much “catching up” was done, through visits to each other’s states, frequent phone calls, emails and letters.

She is survived by her son – Jim Western (Jackie), and their children – Jeannie (Mike) Jeanetta, Mike (Kathryn), Kraig (Megan) and Lindsay (Curtis) Rykal; daughter – Judy (Bob) Pielhop, and their children – Angie (Jeffery) Crane, Ben (Megann) Pielhop and Jennifer (Tommy) Eisenhauer; great-grandchildren – Wilson, Charlotte, Owen, Jaxson, Titan, Nova, Madeline, Brielle, Brayden, Ayla, Brynn, Gwen and Charlie; stepsons – Jerry (Sue) Zien, and their children – Jodi (Shea) Wolgast, Jennifer (Philip) Snider and Joe (Mandi), and Dave Zien (Ginger), and their children – Aryan (Mindy), Amber (Duke) Lyons, Angel-Sky and Rebecca (Garett) Klingbeil; sisters – Sharree Burns, Florence Klemp, Cathy Brown and Mary Connors; sister-in-law – Colleen Danielson; and numerous nieces; nephews; cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother; fathers; husbands; sister – Crystal Stipek; brother – Art Jr.; brothersin- law – Duane Stipek, Don Burns and Lloyd Western (Agnes); sister-in-law – Beulah Christianson (Herman); and way too many cousins and friends.

Services are at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 29, at Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, with the Rev. Mark Neumann officiating. Visitation will begin at the church, at 10 a.m.

Interment will be at a later date, at the Eastside Cemetery in Stanley.

Memorials can be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, or Eastside Cemetery in Stanley.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services in Chippewa Falls, is assisting the family.

To express online condolences, visit pedersonvolker.com.