Obituary: William Edward Zieman, 99, Of Redding And Wilton

Information Courtesy Bouton Funeral Home

REDDING, CT — William Edward Zieman, 99, of Redding, and long-time resident of Wilton, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2021 in Danbury Hospital. William (Bill) was born on May 28, 1922 in Milwaukee, WI to the late William Walter Zieman and Grace Bauer Zieman. He spent his childhood in Downers Grove, IL before moving to Bound Brook, NJ and then Plainfield, NJ where he attended Plainfield High School. Bill was a proud member of the Cornell University class of ‘44, majoring in Chemical Engineering. He completed his studies early to join the WWII US Army VII Corps, landing with them in Normandy and advancing through Europe until the end of the war. Upon his return, he earned a masters degree at University of Michigan.

Bill spent most of his career with Exxon, moving to Houston, Texas, and eventually settling in Wilton, Connecticut for 50 years. He had also had a three-year assignment in Toronto, Canada.
He met his wife, Mary Jo Dougherty, in a local ski club and they continued to enjoy skiing, sailing, travel and attending concerts together throughout their 54 years of marriage.

All that knew Bill will remember him most for his love of sailing and his beloved sailboat, Niord, which he built himself and sailed with his family throughout New England, and as far away as Chesapeake Bay and Lake Ontario. His sense of adventure did not stop there, as he loved to travel and visited all seven continents. Bill was an active Wilton resident as a member of Kiwanis Club, the Lunch Bunch, computer club, and the Wilton Presbyterian Church. He also was an avid photographer and adept at fixing anything.

Bill is predeceased by his dear wife, Mary Jo Zieman, and his sister Evelyn Hersh. He is survived by his sister Virginia Doster of Hingham, MA, and his four children Nancy Grohn and her husband Karl of Branchburg, NJ, William Thomas Zieman and his wife Elizabeth of Ridgefield, Dr. Susan Zieman of Chevy Chase, MD and Dr. Katherine Zieman living in Poitiers, France. He is also survived by six grandchildren Eric Grohn, Denise Grohn, Lisa Zieman all formerly of Branchburg, NJ, and William, Grace and Charlotte Zieman of Ridgefield. A memorial service celebrating Bill's life will be held at the Wilton Presbyterian Church at a time and date to be announced in late December.