Aileen (Berg) Zeissler, age 87, passed away on Monday, January 27th, 2020.

Aileen was born in Minneapolis in 1932. She grew up during the depression in a large family of ten children. As a teenager, she was known as a matchmaker and graduated from Washburn High School in 1950. She lived in New York City, Washington D.C., and Cleveland, before settling in the Chicago area for 25 years where she studied costume design at Harper College and became an entrepreneur. She returned to Minnesota in 1985 where she designed and constructed costumes for numerous venues over twenty years including Valleyfair and the Guthrie Theater.

She was a textile artist who fused colors, textures, mediums, and technology. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, playing bridge, shopping, mahjong, and salty take-out food. Above all of this, she considered her family to be her greatest joy.

She is survived by her children Lynn Chase (Wayne Wegner) of Mendota Heights, Sheri Olson (Terry) of Lakeville, Paul Zeissler (Rebecca) of Sarasota, Florida, Todd Zeissler (Heather) of Rosemount, and son-in-law Joel Reif of Sebastian, Florida; grandchildren Mary Chase (Tim Doll), Claire Chase (Chris Rehwoldt), Erika Osterman (Eric), Renee Cunningham (Andrew), Hailey Zeissler, Ethan Zeissler, Aidan Zeissler, Quinn Zeissler, Karlie Reif, Kelly Reif; and ten great-grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her parents Arnie and Vivian Berg, first husband Donald Sanberg, second husband Robert Zeissler, daughter Barbara Reif, grandson Clint Reif, sisters Yvonne Gustafson and Maxine Slipka, and brothers Donald Berg and Arne Berg.

Services will be held in the Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery Minneapolis on Saturday, February 8th at 10am with visitation 30 minutes prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Published on February 2, 2020