James H. Zander, age 87, of Maple Lake, died Monday, April 20, 2020 at The Estates at Delano nursing home.
Private Graveside services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Albion Evangelical United Church of Christ Cemetery. Webcast of the service is available on the Dingmann Funeral Care website. To show your support, please consider sharing a memory or kind word on Jim’s Tribute Wall, or reaching out to the family directly. Cards may be mailed to the funeral home for forwarding on to the family. Memorials are preferred to Albion Evangelical UCC Cemetery. A public memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Maple Lake.
James Herbert Zander was born March 22, 1933 at his home in Albion Township to Herbert and Meta (Wandersee) Zander. He was baptized at Albion Evangelical Church by Rev. Grupe and was confirmed in 1946 at Albion Evangelical Church by Rev. Buck. He graduated from Maple Lake High School with the Class of 1951.
Jim served in the US Army during the Korean War in Ft. Chaffee in Arkansas and in Germany from 1957-1959. He was married to Joanne Carlson on April 11, 1959 at Salem English Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They returned to Albion Township to raise their family on their crop and dairy farm. Jim loved dairy farming and worked hard at it all his life. Jim also worked at the Rockford Bakery and for Russel Morris Tiling.
Jim was an active member of Bethlehem United Church of Christ, formerly known as Albion Evangelical United Church of Christ. He served on the Spiritual Council, Cemetery Board and the Building Committee for the new church in 1991. He was also a member of the Maple Lake VFW Post 7664 and Maple Lake American Legion Post 131.
Jim enjoyed completing puzzles, playing cards and board games, dancing, eating candy, going to the casino, taking annual trips to the state fair and talking with friends. He loved red tractors, dairy farming and visiting farms. Jim was always sure to take the long route to his destination so that he could get a good view of the countryside. He was cherished by his family and will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne of Maple Lake; children, Barry (Susie) Zander of Maple Lake, Noel (Karla) Zander of Buffalo, Valerie Zander of Buffalo and Mary (Dave) Mero of Outing; grandchildren, Ivy (Eric) Wendt of Monticello, Dustin (Alysa) Zander of Maple Lake, Erica Zander of Minneapolis and Zachary Parker of Maple Lake; and great grandchildren, Hurley, Hailey, Hayz, Stella, Simon, and Lenna. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lynn John Zander; sisters, Jerine Fedor and Betty Benson; and brother, Douglas Zander.
The casket bearers will be Tom Zander, Dan Fedor, Carl Wandersee, Dustin Zander, Zachary Parker and Randy Carlson. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Annandale.
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