Zelda R. Guzman

Zelda Guzman (née Westfall), mother, grandmother, favorite aunt, neighbor and friend to all who knew her, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2023 at the age of 87 at Towner Crest Assisted Living in Oconomowoc, WI.

Zelda was born on August 18, 1935 to Fred and Bertha (née Brackmann) Westfall in Wisconsin Rapids and was raised on the family dairy farm in Rudolph, Wisconsin.  She graduated from Rudolph High School in 1953 and worked in the Extension Office at the Wood County Courthouse until she met her husband, Richard Guzman, on a blind date.  They were married at the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin Rapids on March 2, 1963.  They welcomed two daughters and began raising their family in an apartment in Port Edwards before moving to their life long home on Shady Lane in Wisconsin Rapids in 1968.  They were happily married for 48 years until Richard’s passing on August 26, 2011.

Zelda was a remarkable person whose selflessness knew no bounds. She spent her life as the ultimate wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker possessing a gentle, generous and loving heart while Richard worked as a Pulp Processing Engineer at Consolidated Papers.  She was incredibly gifted, and there wasn’t a project that she couldn’t tackle spanning areas including sewing, crocheting, knitting, cooking, baking, canning, gardening, flower arranging and woodwork refinishing to name a few.  Though Parkinson’s ravaged her body at the end of her life, we hope that you remember her as we do:

As a child learning to cook from her county-wide famous baking mother, listening to her dad’s radio while learning to dance in their living room, sharing the family’s one bicycle with her three siblings and enjoying Sunday dinners with all the relatives that came to their farm for the delicious food.

As the person planning the parties for others to have fun including the annual Engineering Department party showcasing her homemade hot fudge, neighborhood block parties, hunting group gatherings serving her homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs and countless family holidays.  She hosted the only Shady Lane block party which included a live band playing in the garage because she loved to dance!  When the dinner group grew too big for the kitchen table, she made a tablecloth that was big enough for the ping pong table so that everyone could still eat together.

As a partner in life to Richard supporting his passions of gardening, wood cutting, blueberry picking, and processing and cooking the many fish and animals he brought home.  No matter what he showed up with, she found a recipe to turn it into a meal. 

As the ultimate mother having a homemade meal on the table every night at 5:00PM, sewing elaborate Gunne Sax dresses for her daughters, playing board games and card games anytime her daughters asked, cross stitching intricate Christmas stockings and knitting afghans for all of her children and grandchildren, supporting her children in any endeavor they chose whether that be making cookies to deliver to all their neighborhood friends, going to college, moving away for jobs or carting them to wherever they needed to go. 

As the cherished grandma to her three grandchildren often taking them for week long one-on-one visits.  The whole week was focused on them baking, playing cribbage and canasta, eating their favorite foods, going to the zoo, having ice cream (is it really supposed to be a breakfast food?), going to the Little Pink Restaurant and walking dogs at the South Wood County Humane Society.  Zelda loved attending all of their sporting events and artistic activities and considered being a grandma the best job she ever had.

As a devoted volunteer with the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Special Olympics and Opportunity Development Centers (ODC).  She was a mainstay at the church bazaar, participated in the church bell choir and helped countless families during their time of need by planning and making the meal for their loved one’s funeral.  Every week, she would keep score for the ODC participants who went bowling becoming a lifelong friend to many of them. 

As the expert knitter and crocheter who often opened her door to a more novice individual holding a project in their hands asking for help.  Zelda didn’t even need the pattern to diagnose, fix and explain their mistake happily sending them on their way or finishing their project for them if they preferred.

As an avid sports and game show viewer.  She rarely missed a Wisconsin football or basketball game and was a lifelong Packers fan.  Daily morning coffee with the Shady Lane neighbor ladies revolved around The Price is Right and Family Feud, and the Game Show Network and Wheel of Fortune were TV staples later in life. 

Zelda will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Sue (Michelle Kelsey) Guzman and Nancy (Brian) Thompson; grandchildren Sarah, Eric and Kristin Thompson and an amazing group of nieces, nephews and friends.  Zelda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard, siblings and their spouses Lynn (Gerry) Matthews, Bradley (Gloria) Westfall, and Naomi (Lyle) Jacobson, sister-in-laws and their spouses Martha (Harold) Bandow and Marie (George) Schmitz, brother-in-law and his spouse Emil (Millie) Guzman and nieces Trudee Langford, Tangee Matthews, Tamee Matthews, Judy Guzman and Jean Guzman.

The family would like to thank the remarkable caregivers at Towner Crest of Oconomowoc as well as the care team at Agrace Palliative Care and Bluestone Physicians for their comprehensive care and support. We are forever grateful for the respect, dignity and compassion displayed in providing loving care for Zelda.  A special thank you to all the Shady Lane neighbors who kept an eye on Zelda until she moved into assisted living allowing her to stay in her home as long as possible. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:  The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to the South Wood County Humane Society. 

Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 10:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday, May 25.  Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park following the service. 

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