Wilma Jean Cummings, of Delavan, WI, peacefully passed into the arms of our Lord on Easter day, April 20, 2014. She was born on August 8, 1928 in Darien, WI to William and Cora (Wellner) Wenzel and spent much of her early years in and around Darien and Allen’s Grove attending local grade schools and high school. A bright student, Jean graduated from Darien High School at the age of 16 and went on to the Milwaukee School of Business, majoring in business accounting (bookkeeping). Wanting to explore a world larger than her local community, Jean moved to San Francisco California for a period of 18 months before returning to Darien, and never lost the love for that city throughout the rest of her life. Settling back into local life she began to work at Zinzow Construction Company, remaining there until her eventual retirement.
On October 14, 1950, she wed the love of her life, Richard Grant (Dick) Cummings in a ceremony at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. The following year they were blessed with the birth of their only child, William Richard (Bill). Together they settled in and around Delavan for much of the next 50 years, until retirement. Throughout that time they shared a mutual love of the outdoors and fishing. They moved to Tucson, AZ, in 1995 and remained living there for most of the next 7 years while traveling to various locations around the US including Alaska multiple times. They moved back to Delavan in 2002 due to Dick’s declining health. Following Dick’s passing in 2003, Jean remained in Delavan until 2010 devoting much of her time to the READS program and the Lakeland Animal Shelter, focusing on cat adoptions. In 2010 Jean moved to Citrus Heights, CA to be near her son, Bill. It was there she remained until her passing.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, and her parents. She is survived by her brother, Bob Wenzel (wife Vi) of Darien, her son, Bill (wife Patti) of Citrus Heights, step-grandchildren Sara and Lisa Meinschock, In-laws Bill (John) and Paula Cummings of Delavan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday May 1, 2014 at Monroe Funeral Home in Delavan, WI. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memory Garden in Lake Geneva, WI. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Lakeland Animal Shelter. MONROE FUNERAL HOME, in Delavan, WI, is assisting the family. Visit us at monroefh.com.
