Obituary for Delores Mae Zanter

She was born December 21, 1933, in Shell Lake, Wis., to LaVerne and Gladys (Janshen) Tucker. Delores grew up in Onalaska and was a graduate of Onalaska High School. She attended the St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse and graduated in 1955.

On September 1, 1956, Delores married James “Jim” Zanter at St. Wenceslas Catholic Church in La Crosse. They were blessed with four children, Thomas, Timothy, Christopher, and Pamela. The couple moved to Marathon, Wisconsin, where Jim taught school and Delores worked at the hospital in Wausau. They later made their home in West Salem when Jim accepted a teaching position there and Delores began her 27 year career as an IV nurse at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse. Delores was a dedicated nurse and took great pride in caring for her patients.

She enjoyed playing cards, especially euchre, family trips to the cabin up north, and cherished family get-togethers, where her homemade beans were always a favorite. She also loved tending to her flower garden and was known as a wonderful cook.

She was an animal lover who adored her “grand-dogs” and shared a special bond with a donkey named Abby. She was blessed with many wonderful friends and cherished the special friendships she shared through various friend groups.

A proud and loving mother and grandmother, she held her family at the center of her life and was guided by a deep faith as a devout Catholic.

Survivors include her children, Tom (Sandy) Zanter, Chris (Gail) Zanter, and Pam Zanter (Rob Engel); four grandchildren, Lucas Zanter, Caitlin (Brian) Watrud, Ben Engel and Annie Engel; many loving nieces and nephews; special friend, Mya Everson; and many other cherished friends.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Tim; and her husband, Jim.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, January 9, 2026, at St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, 210 W. Hamlin St., West Salem. Msgr. Jeffrey D. Burrill will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in Neshonoc Cemetery.

A visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., when a tribute to Delores’ life as a nurse will be given by the Wisconsin Nurses Honor Guard. Mass will immediately follow this tribute.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to be made in Delores' honor to Shriner's Hospitals for Children or the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. These donations will support two organizations that were very meaningful to her throughout her life.

Online condolences may be offered to Delores' family at this site.