Obituary of Edwin H. Zellmer

Edwin Harold Zellmer, 102, of Braham passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at his home at Elmhurst Commons.

            He was born on December 17, 1915 at Pleasant Mound Township, near Lewisville, MN the sixth of nine children to Robert and Anna (Raddatz) Zellmer.  He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fieldon, and attended parochial schools near Lewisville.

            On April 30, 1941 he was united in marriage to Delores Hiatt at Truman Baptist Church in Truman, MN.  They raised two daughters -  Sandra Kaye, born in 1943 and Linda Corinne, born in 1945.  In 1952, the family moved to Forest Lake where the kids enjoyed fishing, swimming and skating on Forest Lake. 

            Edwin worked on the golf course in Forest Lake and also at Donovan’s in New Brighton.  They moved to Stacy and later to Harris where he started working at Gladiola Farm.  He would go on to work at Honeywell in maintenance from which he retired, after 20 years, in the early 1980’s. 

            Edwin was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Harris. He and Delores were very active in the church, including delivering meals and other ‘behind-the-scenes’ activities. They were also honorary members of the American Legion.   He enjoyed spending time with his young grandsons, going on fun trips to Paul Bunyan Park in Brainerd, and to Wisconsin with the four grandsons to the go-cart tracks, and always hearing “Are we there yet, grandpa?” or “How long do we have to drive yet?”  The kids enjoyed the arcade games and visiting the Wax Museum, the Lord’s Supper with carved life-like characters and tossing pennies into the lion’s den. He always had a pack of gum and plenty of quarters in his pocket for the grandkids.   Going fishing at Trout Air, and eating their catch in the restaurant, was always fun for the kids. He also enjoyed gardening, especially his tomatoes, which he loved to share with the family.  Strawberry picking at Rod’s Berry Farm was another activity he enjoyed.   Some of his favorite things were his ‘vitamins’, beer, sweet treats, Coca Cola, bananas, made sure the girls had their Shirley Temple drinks, and ‘Judge Judy’.

            Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his bride of 75 years Delores in August 2016, daughter, Linda Kranz, great-grandson Travis, brothers Friebert and Alvin Zellmer, sisters Lillian Rosen, Alma Wester, Erna Tinker, Irene Holtslander, Doris Zellmer and Lenora Tuberg.

            Edwin is survived by his daughter, Sandra Keocher of Rush City; son-in-law Dwight Kranz of Pine City; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

            The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice and the Elmhurst Commons and their staffs for their excellent care of ‘Grandpa’.  Everyone seemed to have a special story to share about him and his years with them.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11AM, Saturday, March 31, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Harris.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Harris.  Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.