LaVerne Edmund Zenker

LaVerne Edmund Zenker, 72, Mandan, ND, passed away after a lengthy illness on October 10, 2018, surrounded by his family. Services will be held at 9:30 am Friday, October 12, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Friday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. LaVerne was born July 7, 1946, to Helen (Schwarz) and Edmund Zenker. He was raised on the family farm and attended New England Public High School. Upon graduating high school in 1964, LaVerne joined the U.S. Army and served his country in the Vietnam War. He married his high school sweetheart Kay Stewart on July 16, 1965, in Regent, ND. Following LaVerne’s discharge from the service they moved back to the family farm. In 1970 LaVerne and Kay moved to Cathlamet, WA, where LaVerne worked at a cedar shake mill. He and his family transitioned to trucking in the early 1970’s and formed their trucking company, Double T Distributing. They moved back to Regent, ND, and eventually back to the family farm where LaVerne grew up. Laverne and Kay moved to Mandan, ND, in 2013 allowing them to spend more time with their grandchildren. LaVerne enjoyed woodworking, collecting toy tractors, fishing and especially loved hugs and fist bumps from his grandchildren. Dad was never known as the talker in the family, but he loved conversation and was a great listener. LaVerne is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kay, Mandan; daughter Tammy (Sam) Nelson, Rapid City, SD; grandson Blake Gordon, Mandan; granddaughter Erin Gordon, Vermillion, SD; Daughter Tanya (Patrick) Engelhart, grandson Owen Engelhart, Bismarck; son Travis (Bethany) Zenker, granddaughter Ava Zenker and grandson Aiden Zenker, Bismarck; son TeeJay (McCall) Zenker, grandsons Tyg and Ben Zenker and new grandchild due in December, Mandan. LaVerne is also survived by his sisters and brother-in-law, Lucille Rossbach, Salt Lake City, UT, Loretta Zenker, Loveland, CO; Leota (Francie) Ridl, Loveland, CO. Sister-in-laws, Terri (Kevin) Lien, Dickinson; Sherry Mueller, Dickinson; DeeAnn (Terry) Hartman, Regent, ND; brother-in-law Merle (Kelly) Stewart, Regent, ND; many cousins, nieces, nephews and an aunt and uncle. LaVerne was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Edmund Zenker; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Betty and Dale Stewart; his sister and brother-in-law LuElla and Vernon Schatz; and brothers-in-law Gene Stewart, Glenn Mueller and David Rossbach. LaVerne’s favorite line was “Love You”….. We Love You Dad!