One reason I’m glad to be into photography is to have taken photos of my loved ones. In the spring of 2018 I lost both of my paternal granparents, Grandpa Marcell and Grandma Rosemary. These are some of the photos that I had taken of them in the years before their passing, I will always miss them and love them dearly.
MARCH 29, 1928 - JANUARY 28, 2018
OBITUARY
Marcell was born on March 29th, 1928, on the White Earth Reservation and went home to the Lord, surrounded by his loving family, on January 28th, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Coon Rapids, MN, following a short illness, at the age of 89.
Marcell was the oldest of ten children of Nicholas William & Stella Marie (Bellefeuille) Zurn. He grew up on the family farm outside Callaway, MN, and also farmed with his grandfather Louis George Zurn. He made the transition from horses to mechanical equipment, and was highly skilled with both at a very young age. Marcell went to school in District 132 – a one-room local rural school. He enlisted in The Marine Corps, and following his initial tour of duty, he completed training as an electrician at Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He was called back from the active reserves and fought as a Marine scout in the 1st Marine Division in Korea from 1950 to 1952.
Marcell married Rosemary Alice Savig at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway on June 10th, 1952. They raised their seven children in Moorhead, MN. He was a volunteer at St. Joseph's Church, and as a conservative in the Republican Party.
He worked for his uncle, Chris Zurn, doing plastering and stucco work as Zurn Plastering. Marcell sold insurance for a short time, and then worked for Sears at West Acres in Fargo. He started as a warehouseman, earned master plumbing & heating licenses and supervised the appliance techs, and became a department manager. He greatly enjoyed his co-workers and customers, and excelled at training techs and at marketing. Marcell went from farming with horses to selling high-end electronics, a remarkable work life.
Marcell was always learning and had excellent recall. Using his broad range of knowledge, he taught co-workers, his children, grandchildren, and many others. He gave back to his family and community in many ways. We are extremely blessed to have known him.
Marcell is survived by his beloved wife, Rosemary, of Coon Rapids, MN, children Denise Zurn (Terry Freeman), Renee Zurn, Lois (Richard) King, Mark (Linda) Zurn, Ann Zurn (John Hemmerle), Susan (Tom) Lambert, Andrew (Mary) Zurn, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren (Lord, he enjoyed these children), as well as siblings Betty Dean, Estelle (Ray) Farley, Arletta (Art) Munger, David (Eleanor) Zurn, sisters-in-law Shirley Zurn and Wanda Zurn, and many nieces, nephews and close cousins.
Marcell rests now in the arms of the Lord, with his parents, step-mother, and grandparents, and many much-loved family members who preceded him in death, including his sister Mary and his brothers Duane (Delores), Marcus (Gail), Harlan, and Merlen. May the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior, shine perpetually upon him, and grant him peace. He will be greatly missed – Semper Fi, Dad.
FRI - FEB 9th at Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids, visitation 9:15 AM, rosary 9:45 AM, funeral mass 10:30 AM, and luncheon to follow.
SAT - FEB 17th at Assumption Church in Callaway, prayer service 10:30 AM, with luncheon to follow, and internment at St. Mary's Cemetery with military honors.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1930 – FEBRUARY 20, 2018
OBITUARY
Rosemary was born on September 1st, 1930, in Barnesville, MN, and went home to the Lord on February 20th, 2018, joining Marcell, her husband of 65 years, who died three weeks ago. She passed on unexpectedly but peacefully with family by her side, at her home in Coon Rapids, MN. She was 87 years old.
Rosemary was the oldest of five children of Walter Adeline & Marie Antoinette (Reynolds) Savig. She grew up on farms near Lake Park, MN, and graduated from Lake Park High School. She earned a teaching certificate from MN State University Moorhead and taught in Doran, Moorhead, Rustad, and Lake Park grade schools, starting in 1950.
Rosemary married Marcell Arthur Zurn at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, MN, on June 10th, 1952. They raised their seven children in Moorhead. Rosemary’s focus was always on family, church, and community. Rosemary was active in the Republican Party, the society of St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, and at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She held many leadership positions, including as an officer in Catholic Daughters. She was at home when her children were young – busy! Still, Rosemary graduated with a bachelor’s degree from MN State University Moorhead in 1969, when her kids were 6 to 16 years old, and went back to full-time teaching.
She taught Title 1 special education at St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s Catholic schools, and then 2nd and 3rd grades at Lincoln School, all in Fargo, ND, until retiring in 1995. Rosemary was a devoted and excellent teacher, and she enjoyed her students, their parents, and her colleagues. She took care of her students, to the point of buying them clothes, shoes, and coats if they had none.
After they moved to Coon Rapids in 2009 to be near family, Rosemary helped found the Coon Rapids Tea Party and she remained active in the Republican Party for many years. Rosemary participated in several book clubs in Coon Rapids; this was both a social and an intellectual pleasure for her. She was an avid gardener and loved spending time with her flowers.
Rosemary is survived by her beloved children Denise Zurn (Terry Freeman), Renee Zurn, Lois (Richard) King, Mark (Linda) Zurn, Ann Zurn (John Hemmerle), Susan (Tom) Lambert, and Andrew (Mary) Zurn, and 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, all of whom she enjoyed so much, as well as sisters Rita (Jack) Willette and Ruby Jean (Terry) Jenstead, sisters-in-law Betty Dean, Estelle (Ray) Farley, Arletta (Art) Munger, Shirley Zurn, and Wanda Zurn, brother-in-law David (Eleanor) Zurn, and many nieces, nephews, and close cousins. Rosemary rests now in the arms of the Lord, with her beloved husband Marcell, her parents and grandparents, and many much-loved family members who preceded her in death, including brothers Roger (Peggy) Savig and Robert Savig, and brothers-in-law Duane (Delores), Marcus (Gail), Harlan, and Merlen Zurn.
May the light of Jesus Christ, our Savior, shine perpetually upon her, and grant her peace. She will be greatly missed. You raised us well and gave us a great family, Mom, and we will love you always.
Services are SAT – MAR 3rd at Assumption Catholic Church in Callaway, MN: Visitation 10:30 AM, Rosary 11:15 AM, Mass of Christian Burial at Noon, with luncheon to follow, and interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Donations are preferred in her memory to St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Moorhead, MN, and to Assumption Catholic Church, Callaway, MN.