In loving memory of Ann Zinneman - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Ann Gwen Zinneman passed away peacefully, in her Punta Gorda, Florida home under hospice care, surrounded by family on June 27, 2020. She is survived by her husband Thomas E. Zinneman, daughter Nancy Z. Read (John), and son David E. Zinneman. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward G. Webber and Jane A. Webber, and her brother Edward G. (“Ted”) Webber.

Ann was born on December 26, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Edward G. Webber and Jane A. Webber. They moved to Joliet, Illinois in 1948 where she lived for a good portion of her life. She enjoyed singing and participated in several musicals at Joliet Township High School. Later in life, she sang in the choir at Grace United Methodist Church in Joliet and the Joliet Chamber Choir. She also joined forces with friends and fellow Grace choir members Kay Ray and Janet Seron to perform at annual shows at the church as “The Lemon Sisters.” One of the highlights of her singing career was when the Joliet Chamber Choir was selected to sing at Carnegie Hall with the Andy Williams Christmas Special in 1994. She will always be remembered by her family and the members of Grace Church for singing “O Holy Night” at Christmas Eve services.

Ann married Thomas Ernest Zinneman in Joliet, Illinois on August 24, 1963. This year would have marked their 57th anniversary. Tom and Ann have two children, Nancy Z. Read (John) and David E. Zinneman. Tom and Ann lived in Bloomington, Indiana from 1969 to 1975 while Tom worked at Indiana University. During that time Ann was active in the Bloomington Town Theatre, singing in local productions of musicals including Iolanthe, The Pirates of Penzance, and the Mikado. They moved back to Joliet, Illinois in 1975 when Tom began working at Argonne National Laboratory.

Ann loved sewing and crafts and worked part-time at Jo-Ann Fabrics in the “Old Mall” in Joliet. Most of her paychecks were spent on fabric to make clothes for her family and to make dolls and doll clothing. She loved dolls and had a wonderful collection. She also made costumes for many of the shows that she performed in, as well as for madrigal dinners and operettas in which her daughter performed. She attended craft camps in Southern Illinois for many years where she spent time teaching and learning new craft ideas.

Tom and Ann moved to Florida upon Tom’s retirement in 1998. They bought a home with a pool, just across a canal from Ann’s brother and his wife, Ted and Marlene Webber. Ann loved Florida and loved being around her family. She loved the sunshine, warm weather, and yearlong flowers. It was in Florida that Ann adopted a toy poodle named Roscoe. He became her constant companion and brought her years of joy.

Ann also loved fast cars and racing, always tuning in to watch or listen to the Indy 500 and Nascar races. That is surely where her son David got his love of racing. She was also an avid reader and would sometimes finish 3 to 4 books in a week. She was a regular visitor to the Port Charlotte Public Library and donated most of the books she read to the Friends of the Punta Gorda Charlotte Library. She loved the library, and especially the Friends of the Library bookstore. The family has made a donation to the library in her memory.

Ann suffered kidney failure in 2001 and was on dialysis for 2 years prior to receiving a kidney transplant. She gained an additional 10 years of life with the transplant until that kidney failed, after which she spent the last 7 years of her life again on dialysis.

Ann was known for her positivity and cheer. Despite her health issues later in life, she was always positive and expressed kindness to all. While we mourn our loss, we celebrate her incredible life.

Ann will be cremated. Her memorial page is with Baldwin Brothers Cremation in Port Charlotte, Florida. Services will be scheduled at a later date. Her Facebook page will also remain as a memorial to her. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to any local Animal Shelter. Her remains will be interred at Rest lawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte, Florida.