Ingwelde Zeff was born June 4, 1919 to Ada and Walther Pfitzner. She died August 26, 2017 in Arvada Colorado after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born in Deadwood South Dakota, her family moved to Aberdeen South Dakota where she grew up playing violin and later viola. Every summer she and her parents and older sister Suzanne made the long trip to Three Lakes Wisconsin, camping in a tent along the way, to spend time on Planting Ground Lake.
The family moved to Minneapolis Minnesota in order for her to attend the University of Minnesota. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in music. In 1941, she became engaged to violinist David J Zeff. During World War II Ingwelde taught music at UW River Falls, directing band and orchestra. After David returned from military service, they were married June 1, 1946.
Ingwelde and David then moved to Oshkosh and started a family. She taught at UW Oshkosh for one year. She served as concert mistress of the college orchestra and played in the Oshkosh Civic Orchestra. For many years Ingwelde on viola and David on violin played in the pit orchestra for the Miss Wisconsin Pageant. they also played in numerous area high school productions of South Pacific, Oklahoma, Pajama Game, Music Man, and Amahl and the Night Visitors.
After retirement and raising a daughter and a son, Ingwelde and David traveled around the US, then settled for the winter months in Naples, Florida returning to Wisconsin for spring, summer and fall. She enjoyed orchid growing, bird watching and nature hikes. She and her husband continued to play chamber music with friends for their own enjoyment in the Oshkosh area and in Three Lakes. Ingwelde loved to spend time with family, to fish, to garden, and to bake. In 2012, they moved to Colorado to be near their daughter.
She is survived by her husband David J Zeff of Arvada Colorado, daughter Susan "Betsy" (David) Spoerke MD of Lakewood Colorado, son David (Linda) Zeff of Lynchburg, Virginia, grandchildren Laura (Ron) Schuchart of Raleigh North Carolina, Kevin (Ela) Zeff of Christiansburg Virginia, Erika (Caleb) Luther of Longview Washington, Erik Spoerke of Albuquerque New Mexico, Nick (Sharon)Spoerke of Reno Nevada and nine great grandchildren: Lily Spoerke, Anneka Spoerke, Heidi Spoerke, Viktoria Zeff, Tyler Schuchart, Ryan Schuchart, Ava Luther, Isaac Luther and Judah Luther.
A funeral service for Ingwelde will take place at 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at Seefeld Funeral Home. A time of visitation will take place between 8:30 am and 10:00 am at the funeral home. Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Park.
We had her in our lives for a long time. We have her in our hearts forever.

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