Tamara J. Meidl's Obituary
Tamara Jean Meidl, age 65, passed away enveloped in her family’s love on June 13, 2025.
Tammie was born on 11/4/1959 to James (Jim) and Sharon Tratz in Oshkosh. She was the second of four children: Pat (& Jenny), Cheryl (& Dave Schiavone), and Brian (& Crystal). Although they lived in Oshkosh, the family spent a considerable amount of time in Tigerton, WI, where Jim and Sharon were from, visiting their grandparents Pat & Irene Brady on their farm, and later where they built a cabin.
In high school, Tammie met the love of her life, Lee Meidl, and they married in 1979. Tammie and Lee always had a sense of adventure that took them all around the country, first to Tulsa, OK from 1982-1986, then to Rancho Cucamonga, CA from 1986-1988. In 1987, their first daughter, Lauren (John Bushman) was born. Shortly after, they decided they wanted to raise their family back home by most of their family and share their love of the cabin “Up North” with their children so they returned to Oshkosh in 1988. In 1991 their second daughter, Brooke (Zachary Neubauer) was born. Tammie and Lee devoted their lives to raising their daughters to be strong, hardworking, and loyal women, which they modeled in their actions and love for each other.
In 2006, they relocated to Westfield, IN where they stayed for 7 years before returning to Southern California from 2014-2018. The love for their daughters, and then granddaughters, brought them back to Wisconsin once again in 2018.
Tammie was known for her positive and nurturing spirit. She formed lifelong friendships everywhere she went and stayed in touch with them all through phone calls, visits, emails and texts. Tammie was the heart of her family and took pride in building a beautiful and welcoming home for her family and friends to enjoy- from her meticulously maintained gardens, to decorating her home, to hosting the family holidays. She brought so much love and light to everyone around her. She often told people that being “Mom” to her daughters and then “Mimi” to her granddaughters was the best job she ever had.
Tammie is preceded in death by her mother and grandparents. She is survived by her father-Jim Tratz, husband- Lee Meidl, daughters: Lauren and Brooke, sons in law: John Bushman and Zak Neubauer, granddaughters: Greta & Heidi Neubauer, sister- Cheri Schiavone, and brothers- Pat and Brian Tratz, many dear brothers and sisters in law, cousins, nephews, nieces, and numerous lifelong friends who all cherish her in their hearts.
Per Tammie’s wishes, a celebration of life will be planned for a later time.
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