Larry L. Zielke

Larry Zielke, 76, of Eau Claire, passed on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, surrounded by family at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, August 7, at SS John-Bernard Catholic Church in Benton Harbor. Visitation will be 2-5 p.m., with a prayer service at 2 p.m., on Sunday, August 6, at Bowerman Funeral Home, Eau Claire, and online messages may be left at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Memorials may be made to the church or to Catholic Family Services. 

Larry was born April 7, 1941, the son of Julius Jay and Mary Alice (Burton) Zielke. He was a lifelong resident and farmer on the Zielke family farm in Pipestone Township. He worked at Industrial Rubber in St. Joseph, welded at Clark Equipment in Benton Harbor, and retired from the Painters Union at Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman. Larry belonged to SS John-Bernard Catholic Church and volunteered for the Lions Club of Eau Claire. He stayed close with school friends, meeting for lunch every Thursday at the Pour House in Coloma. He enjoyed going to local festivities and fairs. Larry and his wife spent their winters in Stuart, Florida. He was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and brother-in-law. He brought great joy to those who loved him.

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jean (Culver) Zielke; children: Dr. Susan (Michael Balmes) Lentz, Elaine (Douglas) Rohdy, Kenneth (Laura) Zielke, Cherie (Randy) Schriner, and Andrea (Cal) DeVries; sister, Linda (George) Dohm; grandchildren: McKenzie (Matthew) Bronson, Matthew Rohdy, Jeremy Rohdy, Nathan Rohdy, Ashley (Dane) Nelson, Robert Seageren II, Aimee (David) Veldt, Scott (Diane) Schriner, Kyle Schriner, Derrick Schriner, Steve Glavach and Connor Glavach; one great-grandson and five great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation with Prayer Service:
Bowerman Funeral Home
6635 East Main Street, Eau Claire, MI 49111
August 6, 2017, 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Prayer service at 2 p.m.