Lorraine H. Tamminga

Lorraine H. Tamminga, 83 of Beaver Dam lost her six-year battle with esophageal cancer and passed away at home on Friday, September 16, 2022 with her daughters Susan and Annette by her side. 

Lorraine was a lifelong Beaver Dam resident and born there on December 8, 1938, to Merlin and Augusta (nee Mundt) Kuenzi.  She graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1957 and a year later she married Wilfred ‘Bill’ Tamminga on May 16, 1958.  They moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO after Bill was drafted into the military returning to Beaver Dam with their baby Susan. Lorraine completed training as a CNA and worked for the Beaver Dam Community Hospital for many years. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, Brother Russell Kuenzi and Sister Shirley (Kuenzi) Neuman, and other family and friends.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan of Beaver Dam and Annette of Bloomington, IL.; Brothers Gerald (Julie) of Pewaukee & Norbert ‘Chuck’ (Debbie) Kuenzi of Beaver Dam; Nieces Gwen (Dan) O’Donnell, Christine (Jon)Thomas, Tammy Schmidt, Terriann (Kenneth) Strahota, Nancy (Martin) Hauser; Nephews Dale Neuman, Jason (Christine) Kuenzi, Jamie (Tracey) Kuenzi, Rick (Jodi) Tamminga, Rory (Diane) Tamminga, Jon (Cathi) Vining; grand-nieces, grand-nephews, other family and friends too numerous to mention.

She had a strong appreciation for the beauty of nature and taught her daughters to respect and love the same.  To help her daughters love all creatures as children, she found a Cecropia moth cocoon and brought it into the house so they could wait until Spring and to see North America’s largest native moth emerge.  She also taught her daughters to ice skate and passed on her skill as an accomplished seamstress.   

She especially enjoyed fishing with the family on the local lakes whenever time allowed.  There were many family trips to Pittsville, WI where her mother grew up and yearly outings to Northern Wisconsin to catch a meal of Walleyes.  She had many photos of their successful catch of the day.  The regular fish fries included her sumptuous potato salad, cole slaw and creamed cucumber salad, recipes she passed onto her daughters. 

She enjoyed traveling with her daughters and one of her most memorable trips was when they took her to Hawaii and Kauai in 2016 where she experienced the beauty of the islands.  After selling her home of 50 years she moved into an apartment and started watching home improvement shows and the irony did not escape her daughters.   

The greatest gift she gave her daughters was knowledge of Jehovah God and that the Bible is his message to us.  After her husband’s death and a diagnosis of cancer the person inside became stronger and she drew closer to Jehovah her God.  She didn’t fear death knowing the hope and promises provided in the Bible at Acts 24:15, “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”  At that time she will experience the fulfillment of Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.  The former things have passed away.”   

The family would like to thank Brittany, Megan, Molly, and the entire staff of Hillside Hospice for their loving care.  We would also like to thank Diane, Roberta, Chuck & Deb for their selfless support and long nights of care.  If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hillside Hospice, 707 S. University Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 or to a charity of your choice.   

There will be a private burial service at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. 

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.  You may send private online condolences or sign the family’s guest book at www.cstonefs.com