Evansville / Ridgeway – Esther Catherine Zander, age 97 of Evansville and formerly of Ridgeway passed away on November 6, 2022.

Esther was born on May 4, 1925 to Fritz and Hannah Amacher and was raised on the family farm on Amacher Hollow Road in Arena. Esther married Wilbur Doescher in 1942 and together they had 10 children. Esther and Wilbur later divorced in 1973. Esther then married Marvin Zander in 1976.

Esther was very well known in the tavern business in the Barneveld/Ridgeway area.

Esther is survived by her children Mary June (David) Zitka, Ronnie (Peggy) Doescher, Pat Foss, Roger (Pat) Doescher, Barb (Roger) Leuthold, Dennis (Rhonda) Doescher, Duane "Porky" Doescher; her son-in-law Russell Peterson; daughter-in-law Rosemary Doescher. Esther is further survived by 96 grandchildren; her brother Walt Evans; her sister Bernice Forbes.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Zander, her sons Randy Doescher and Donald Doescher, her daughter Bonnie Peterson, her daughters-in-law Judy Doescher and Joanne Doescher, her granddaughter Kimberly Leuthold, her sons-in-law Donnie Foss and Bob Zitka, her grandson-in-law Brian Mester, her brothers Kenneth Amacher and Chris Amacher, and her sister Marylou Chapman.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. Pastor Rhia Strohm will officiate. Inurnment will be held in Eastside Ebenezer Cemetery in Ridgeway. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until time of service on Thursday at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Heights in Evansville and Agrace Hospice for their end of life care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to Agrace Hospice or the Iowa County Humane Society.