TOMAH- Jake Gustav Zingler, 95 of Tomah passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Tomah Health.
He was born on January 6, 1930, to Gustav H.E. Zingler and Alma R. Umbach in Tomah, the youngest of 5 children. Jake was a member of the Tomah High School Graduating Class of 1949. After graduating high school, Jake was drafted into the United States Army in 1951 for artillery and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. On December 27, 1958, Jake was united in marriage to Dorothy Ann Kanable. She preceded him in death on September 14, 2019. Jake retired from the City of Tomah as a Heavy Equipment Operator after over 32 years of service. While working for the City he proudly served as the AFSCME Local 1947B union president for many years. Before working for the City, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad in Tomah as a material handler for 10 years. Other earlier jobs included: setting pins at the bowling alley, worked at the canning factory, raked cranberries, and helped build houses when he was laid off from the railroad. He enjoyed trapping, hunting, fishing, tying fishing flies, making rugs, and sewing. He continued to turkey and deer hunt into his early 90’s and still enjoyed trout fishing the ponds at Fort McCoy.
He is survived by his daughter, Cheryl of Onalaska, along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of over 60 years, Dorothy, brothers and spouses, John (Doris), Francis (Virgie), Arthur, a sister, Elizabeth Zingler, brother-in-law, John Asen, sister-in-law, Lois Kanable, a nieces, Joan Kanable, and Rhonda Zingler.
Cheryl would like to thank all of his outstanding caregivers during his year and a half in assisted living and the nurses during his recent hospital stays.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
