Lawrence L. Zenz

LANCASTER - Larry Zenz, age 93, of Prairie du Sac, formerly of Lancaster, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 24, 2021, at his residence. He was born in Lancaster on August 3, 1928, the son of Leo and Catherine (Siepker) Zenz and grew up on the family farm during the Depression. As a boy, he figured out how to run trap lines and sell pelts to help support his family. The squirrels he shot and fish he caught helped keep food on the table. Larry was raised with a strong Catholic faith and attended St. Clement Catholic School. After graduation from Lancaster High School in 1946, he served his country in the U.S. Army. His adventurous spirit led him to purchase an airplane without having a flying lesson. The Farm & Industry Short Course at UW-Madison was where he learned how to weld. Larry’s real genius was manifested in his ability to repair and design farm implements and other inventions with rudimentary sketches on scraps of paper. On October 15, 1955, Larry was united in marriage to Eunice M. Timmerman at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hazel Green, which led to a resilient partnership. They were blessed with 54 years of married life. As a young couple they “tore up” area dance halls. Working hard, playing hard, and praying often were consistent habits in their family of seven children. His strong work ethic and talent for problem solving, with Eunice’s business sense led to the creation of Zenz Welding and Manufacturing in Lancaster. During their 25 years in business, he designed and built machinery, wood stoves, and three houseboats. Larry and Eunice’s family enjoyed weekends on the Mississippi near Bagley. The river would resound with his joyous calls of “Hallelujah.” Larry and Eunice moved near Parks, Arkansas, in 1983, where he built their home, cleared the land, dug ponds, and started a cattle farm. He had a sawmill to cut up the trees he cleared. With his endless creativity and artistic flare, he built furniture treasured by family and friends. Larry also built unique (and sometimes dangerous) playground equipment for his grandchildren. Service to the community was an important value in Larry’s life. He enjoyed the fellowship of St. Jude Catholic Church in Waldron, Arkansas, and was always ready to help with cooking and building projects. Larry relished fishing and hunting trips throughout his life and entertained others with many stories of danger and adventure. Trips to all parts of the world inspired a love of travel, adventure, and the opportunity to meet new people. After years of self-sufficient living in Arkansas he moved back to Wisconsin in 2018 to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed weekend fish fries and Manhattans. His sense of fun and mischief was ever present with stories that delighted all. The ability to create, inspire, and entertain others didn’t come to an end with the passing of Larry Zenz. Legends never die…
Larry is survived by his children, Julie, Jane (Mike) Karleskint, Jim (Linda), Joyce (Matt) Link, Jean (Jon) Ackerman, Joe (Shari) and Jenny (Bryce) Bellinder; 20 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his sister, Ann (Warren) Zeigle, brother-in-law, Ben Koeller; and in-laws, Bob Timmerman, Jim (Alice)Timmerman, Dick (Judy) Timmerman, Ellen (Timmerman) Westemeier, Dan (Karen) Timmerman.
In addition to his parents, Leo and Catherine, and his father and mother-in-law, Joe and Helen Timmerman, Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Eunice, sister, Rosemary Koeller, sister-in-law, Ann Timmerman, and brother-in-law, Herb Westemeier.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, in Lancaster, with Father William Vernon officiating. Burial with military honors will be in St. Clement Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, where a parish rosary will be prayed at 2:45 p.m. Friends may also call on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Larry Zenz memorial fund has been established. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster is assisting the family.