Roman Zenner

Roman S. Zenner, age 80, of rural Longville, died Thursday, January 8, at his home.
Roman (?Zeke?, ?Manny?), was born May 17, 1923 at Ada, the 3rd of 4 sons born to Henry & Anna (Karls) Zenner. The Zenner family moved to St. Cloud in 1925. Manny was raised during the Great Depression and worked at his father?s place of business. His free time was spent hunting and fishing with his brothers and friends. At Tech High School he participated in choir, student council and National Honor Society, graduating in 1940. He attended Drew Business College in St. Cloud, and in 1941 started working at Cold Spring Granite Company as a clerk. Manny entered the military in March, 1943. Initially, he attended an Army Specialized Basic Engineering training course at Ohio State University. Later he was transferred to the 102nd Infantry Division (?The Ozarks?), where he was a scout platoon leader. The Ozarks landed in Cherbourg, France in September 1944. Manny attended Officers Training School in Fontainbleau, France and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. As the war in Europe closed, Manny served with the Ozarks in the occupation army, including duty at the Burgermeister at Ruhstorf, Germany. He was released from active duty and entered the Army Reserve in July, 1946. Returning home, he danced his way into the heart of Evelyn Marilyn Hill, and they were married October 22, 1949. The following October the 1st of their 5 children, Mark, was born. Soon afterward Manny was called back to active military duty. He was sent to Fort Carson, CO as an infantry training officer with the Fifth Army, 14th Infantry Battalion. His 2nd son, Guy, was born in November 1951, while Manny was serving in Korea. Manny was awarded both ta Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart in Korea. He returned home in July 1952 and returned work at the granite company. His 3rd son, Dane, was born in May 1953, followed by Danielle in April, 1956, and Blaze, in February, 1959. With the birth of his last child, Manny often referred to his children as ?his poker hand, 4 Jacks and a Queen?. Manny held a variety of jobs with the granite company, retiring in 1988 after 47 years. In 1964 Manny and Evie purchased 80 acres of ?God?s Country? in Cass County, south of Longville. Many years of fishing, duck, deer, and grouse hunting along with some great maple syrup-making occurred. In the fall of 1969 a basement was dug, and throughout the next two years, many family and friends helped with the construction of Manny and Evie?s retirement home. 1988, Dane and two others completed the construction and Manny and Evie moved in permanently. They traveled to Jamaica with friends several times for winter relaxation and, in recent years, spent time in Florida keeping his golf game sharp during the off-season.

Manny is survived by Evie, his wife of 54 years; his daughter Daniele (Jeff) Carlson of Houlton, WI; four sons, Mark (Jeanne) of Long Prairie, Guy (Joan) of Clear Lake, IA, Dane (Terry) of Longville, and Blaze (Sally) of Duluth; eleven grandchildren, Nicole, Shaun, Christopher, Cassandra, Grace, Kaitlyn, Devin, Eli, Meghan, Bjorn, and Ian; and three brothers, Vernon (Patricia) of St. Cloud, Myron (Rosemary) of St. Cloud, and Harry, of Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, January 12, 2004 at 10:30 at St. Edward?s Catholic Church in Longville with Father Roland Antus officiating. Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Camp Ripley. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Submitted by: Brenny Funeral Chapel 218-828-5051