Deerfield – Daniel Anthony Zeimet, age 92, was welcomed into the afterlife with loving arms on Monday, January 26, 2026. Dan was surrounded by family when he passed away peacefully at his son’s home, after a brief battle with cancer.

Dan was born on September 20, 1933, the youngest child to Joseph and Catherine (Kessenich) Zeimet. Dan attended school at Madison East where he graduated in 1951. After high school, Dan joined the Army where he served from 1951 to 1955 and was stationed in Alaska. After his service, Dan followed in the footsteps of his father, working as a bricklayer. For 44 years, he worked as a mason, primarily for Crowley Masonry and Findorff until his retirement in 1995. He took great pride in his work and passed along his skills and love for the trade to two of his sons and one grandson. On November 12, 1955, Dan married the love of his life, Diane Grace (Olson). Together, they had eight children: Bill, Betsy, Tom, John, George, Laurie, Danny and Zach. Dan was a proud family man and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He and Diane raised their children on a farm in Deerfield.

On the farm, they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, horses, tobacco, corn and soybeans. Dan greatly enjoyed taking his kids and grandkids for rides in the horse buggies around Utica and teaching them the ways of farming. Dan and his family created many memories during their countless hours in the tobacco field, the strip house and the hog barn.

Dan was also an avid euchre player. For years, he enjoyed playing euchre at the Deerfield Community Center on Thursdays. He cherished the friendships that he made while playing cards.

Dan was a kind, gentle, and funny man with a quick-wit and comeback for everything. He was also a devout member of St. Pius X in Cambridge and spent many years delivering Meals on Wheels to seniors in need. He lived a long, good life, despite several great hardships. He was strong-willed, and he never complained.

Although we will all miss him beyond measure, we are comforted knowing that our dad and grandpa has been reunited with the loved ones that he’d lost much too early in life: his wife, Diane; his son, Danny; his daughter, Betsy; and his grandson, Joey.

Dan is survived by his children: Bill (Terry) Zeimet, Tom (Sandy) Zeimet, John (Dawn) Zeimet, George (Becka) Zeimet, Laurie (Paul) Schwoerer; and Zach (Julie) Zeimet; 23 grandchildren: Jenny (Brian) Diggs, Rachel (Evan) Culver, Billy (Alyssa) Zeimet, Sara (Justin) Tilton, Ryan (Sarah) Vingum, Eric Vingum, Colten (Sam) Vingum, Kyle Zeimet, Amanda (Brandon) Ninedorf, Luke, Emily, Olivia (Kyle), Jacob, Daniel, Hannah and Gracie Zeimet, Ashley (Ben) Gerhke, Tyler (Samantha) Schwoerer, Ashley (Luke) Thronson, Dylan and Cole Rickey, and Taylor and Jack Zeimet; and 18 great grandchildren: Raiden, Abigail, William, Elisabeth, Brooklyn, James, Jameson, Kayden, Grady, Walker, Leighton, Banks, Vivian, Abigail, Freya, Friedrich, Kason and Rhett.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Diane; his children: Danny and Betsy; his grandson, Joey; his siblings: Catherine, David, Jim, Joseph and Veronica; and his parents.

Dan’s family is very grateful to his care team at HomeInstead and Agrace, especially Sayid and Bernadette, for their kindness and care in his final months. We’d also like to express our thanks to Jack and Dawn for making him comfortable in their home and taking care of him over the last year, as well as his granddaughter/roommate, Emily, who lived with and cared for him for the six years prior, allowing him to stay in the home that he so cherished for as long as he was able.

A visitation will be held for Dan at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 701 W. Water Street in Cambridge on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and on Friday, February 6th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Father Dave Timmerman presiding. A luncheon will be held after mass, followed by a private burial for the family at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Deerfield. In lieu of flowers, Dan’s family asks that donations be made in his name to the Deerfield Community Center in Deerfield, WI, as this is a place that brought him great joy for more than 10 years.

To view his obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N. Sherman Avenue

608-249-8257

Daniel Zeimet

September 20, 1933 - January 26, 2026

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