Harry Ziniel, 90, of Florence, passed away Friday, December 30, 2011, at Dickinson County Healthcare System, Iron Mountain.
He was born March 16, 1921, in Evanston, Ill., son of the late Harry and Elvina (Schoenman) Ziniel. Harry grew up in Illinois and graduated from Evanston Township High School, Class of 1940. He served in the United States Navy from 1942, until being honorably discharged in 1945. He married Hazel Thorsen on August 27, 1944, in Evanston. She preceded him on July 22, 2006.
Harry and Hazel resided in Illinois for one year before moving to Florence in 1947. Harry worked for Colgate-Palmolive for thirteen years as a salesperson. He then went to work for Vestal Chemical Company in St. Louis for twenty-eight years, retiring back to the home he built as a cottage in Spread Eagle in September of 1990.
He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Florence and was a past member of the United Commercial Travelers (UCT). Harry enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and was an ardent Green Bay Packer fan. He was a volunteer at the Iron Mountain hospital. Since the death of “Snookie,” five years ago, he has been embraced by the extraordinary friendship of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. His family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to all of their members.
Harry will be missed by his many friends and loving family.
He is survived by one son, Michael (Kristin) Ziniel, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; one daughter, Julie Ziniel, Milwaukee; one grandson, Nicholas, Sturgeon Bay, two great-grandchildren, Brayden and Collin, Sturgeon Bay; two brothers, Gordon (Marilyn) Ziniel, Des Plaines, Ill., Leonard (Eldora) Ziniel, Dunlap, Ill.; one sister-in-law, Jean (Joseph) Brouillette, Granite Bay, Calif.; many nieces and nephews; and his treasured friends, the Santoni family of Iron Mountain and Spread Eagle, Wis.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife of over sixty years, Hazel; and one sister, Barbara (Ziniel) Golden.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 5, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence. VFW Florence Post No. 3635 will accord military honors 10:45 a.m., Thursday at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday at the funeral home. Rev. Douglas Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Harry or leave a condolence to his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com
The Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence, is serving the family.