Ilene J. Zien

1930 - 2025

Ilene J. Zien

January 22, 1930 - September 16, 2025

Ilene J. Zien, 95, of Chippewa Falls, passed away Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the LakeHouse in Chippewa Falls while under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

Ilene was born January 22, 1930, in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL to Lila Arneson. Ilene was raised until the age of 2 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 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 Saviors Lutheran Church in Stanley. Ilene 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. In 2018 Ilene moved to Chippewa Falls 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. She 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. In 2013, two sisters, Florence "Flo" Klemp and Cathy Brown, were found through ancestry research. Since their meeting much "catching up" was done through visits to each other's states, frequent phone calls, emails, and letters.

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

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, September 29 at Faith Lutheran Church with Rev. Mark Neumann officiating. Visitation will begin at church at 10 a.m.

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

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

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls is serving the family. Visit pedersonvolker.com to express condolences online.