Wayne Rudolph Ziert

Wayne “Cricket” Rudolph Ziert was a wonderful man with a heart of gold, an unforgettable laugh, a story to share, and a way of making everyone’s day a little better. He passed away on January 12, 2021, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay with his wife, Janine, and family by his side. Born on December 17, 1939, in Bradley Township near Tomahawk, WI to Rudolph and Geraldine (McCarthy) Ziert, he gained his nickname “Cricket” early in life because he could make a chirping sound like a cricket. He graduated from Merrill High School Class of ’57 and left soon after to serve in the U.S. Navy on the USS Shangri-La CVA-38, sailing to ports in Hawaii, Philippines, Guam, Japan, Korea and Midway and playing cornet in the Navy Band. For the past 31 years Cricket was married to Janine (Sartori). They met while he was working as a surveyor for Kennecott Exploration Company (later acquired by Rio Tinto), a firm that mined industrial diamonds in the Crystal Falls area in the 80s, and his office was located next to Ben Franklin, where Janine worked. Together they traveled, hunted, fished, skied, golfed, boated, gardened, built a home, regularly attended Mass at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, and enjoyed life together with family and friends. Earlier in life he worked as a bartender in Minocqua, had a fishing charter boat at Black River Harbor in Ironwood, and was a member of the National Ski Patrol serving in Wausau, Ironwood and Colorado. Cricket will be remembered for many things including his extensive knowledge of nature and geology, building birch-bark canoes and a log cabin on the Net River, always lending a helping hand, and cooking favorite dishes for Janine’s family, including Brussels sprouts with bacon and venison in butter. Surviving family include Cricket’s wife, Janine; his daughter, Sheila Tallman of Plymouth, MN; his brother Mike (Shirley) Ziert of Calimesa, CA; brother Gene Ziert of Redlands, CA; cousins, sisters- and brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Cricket. Cricket touched the hearts of many. Family and friends will celebrate his life on July 9, 2021 with Mass at 11 AM at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, interment at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, followed by a gathering at Tufts Rondon VFW Post 2891. Nash Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Wayne Rudolph Ziert

December 17, 1939 - January 12, 2021