Bridge will serve in memory of Dep. LaVonne Zenner
A Wood County bridge will serve as an ongoing memorial to the memory of a woman with Taylor County connections.
Gov. Tony Evers recently signed into law Act 211 designated Hwy. 13 and CTH A bridge over U.S. Highway 10 in Wood County as the Deputy LaVonne Zenner Memorial Bridge.
“Deputy Zenner was an active member of her community committed to serving her friends and neighbors, and it is an honor to designate this bridge in her memory,” said Gov. Evers. “It’s people like Deputy Zenner who truly embody what it means to be a Wisconsinite and make our state and communities better places to live. So, I want to thank the bipartisan legislators who worked to send this bill to my desk on behalf of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department to honor her memory and service.”
Only three weeks after being hired as a full-time deputy for the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Zenner tragically passed away on Aug. 3, 1989, when she was involved in a multiple vehicle car accident on her way to meet her field training officer. She was only 39 years old and was survived by her parents, her husband, and her two children, Angela and Eric. In addition to her law enforcement service, Deputy Zenner was an active member of the Marshfield community and in recognition of her dedication to serving her community, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department sought out the designation of this bridge in her memory.
The former LaVonne Zirngible was born March 11, 1950 in Medford, a daughter of Albert and Lila Zirngible. She graduated from Medford Senior High School in 1968.
After graduation, she worked as a secretary for Wilson- Hurd Manufacturing Co., Wausau. She was married to Gerald M. (Mike) Zenner July 10, 1971 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Medford. After her marriage, she worked in Marshfield Clinic’s insurance department before studying police science at Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin Rapids. She was employed as a reserve deputy for Wood County and later became a deputy for the city of Pittsville. On July 17, 1989 she became a full-time deputy for the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.
