Margaret Mary (Wachowski, Ravasz) Zielke, 83, formerly from Lemont, Illinois, passed away on June 22, 2025, at her home in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Marge was born in Aurora, Illinois, to William and Margaret (Miko) Wachowski on December 11, 1941. She graduated from Lisle Community High School in 1959. She moved to Lemont, Illinois, in 1962 where she raised her family. Marge was dedicated to providing excellent work at Argonne National Laboratory. She married Herbert Zielke in 1991, and they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997 to enjoy retirement. After Herb’s passing in 2020, Marge moved to Arizona to live with her daughter.
Marge is survived by her daughter, Tina (Ravasz) Agans; stepdaughters Kathleen Brashler and Sharon (John) Camp; grandchildren Elizabeth Agans, Eric Ravasz, Matthew Ravasz, Jason (Andrea) Brashler and Laura Brashler; sisters Sharon (Joe) Kondik, Teresa (Carl) White, and brother William (Mary) Wachowski; adopted grandson Brandon O’Connor; adopted great-granddaughter Abee O’Connor; adopted daughter Patty O’Connor; and several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband Herbert Zielke; parents William and Margaret; brothers Stanley and Michael Wachowski; first husband Robert Ravasz; son Mark Ravasz; son-in-law John Agans; grandson Nicholas Agans; niece Tracy Kondik; brother-in-law Robert (Marie) Zielke; sisters-in-law Lucille (Robert) Johnston; Lorma (George) Alwes; Emily (Gordon) Coristine; and extended family members and friends.
Marge was a breast cancer survivor for 25 years. She enjoyed having adventures with Herb, watching Green Bay Packers and Chicago Blackhawks, reading, crafting, scrapbooking and watching home improvement shows. In the last two years, she enjoyed spending time with her daughter and granddaughter where the three generations lived together.
A cemetery service and burial will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery in Lemont, Illinois on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 2:00PM. Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of Marge’s life at Merichka’s in Crest Hill following the service at her final resting place.
The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley (Phoenix, AZ) for their support in taking such gracious and compassionate care of Marge in her last months of life, San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home (AZ), Markiewicz Funeral Home (IL), and St. Matthew Lutheran Church staff for their support with final arrangements. Any donations to Hospice of the Valley in Marge’s name would be appreciated by the family.