Marian J. Zell

Marian June Zell, age 95, a resident of Harbour Village of Greenfield, Wisconsin, entered her eternal rest on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Zilber Family Hospice in Wauwatosa.

Marian was born on June 6, 1925 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of William and Erna Griep (née Luebke). By God’s grace Marian was joined to her Savior by Holy Baptism on July 5, 1925 at Trinity Lutheran Church of West Bend, and she was confirmed in the Christian faith on Palm Sunday of 1939 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Two Rivers.

After attending St. John’s Lutheran School and Washington Public High School in Two Rivers, Marian qualified for the Cadet Nurse Corps sponsored by the federal government during World War Two. She enrolled at the School of Nursing at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee. Upon completing that program of study, for six months she served returning veterans at a military hospital in Topeka, Kansas.

Marian maintained her registered nursing license throughout her working life. Most notably, she assisted the practice of Dr. Eugene Schuh at Medical Associates in Watertown, Wisconsin for more than 20 years.

On June 27, 1948 Marian was married to William Zell at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Mishicot, Wisconsin. She accompanied and supported her husband, a Lutheran pastor, as he served parishes in Tacoma, Washington; Kolberg, Wisconsin; and St. Paul, Minnesota. From 1960 until retirement in 1989, Bill served on the faculty of Northwestern College and Northwestern Preparatory School of Watertown. Marian was happily involved in campus life, serving as the campus nurse during the last years of her working career.

Upon retirement, Marian and Bill moved to Mishicot, Wisconsin. After Bill’s death, Marian resided in her native Two Rivers and eventually moved to the Milwaukee area to be near her family.

During her retirement years Marian was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Mishicot for nearly 30 years. Her favorite pastimes included golfing, reading, her daily crossword puzzle, keeping her home neat and tidy, and especially seeing her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband of 61 years and her parents, Marian was preceded in death by her sister Katherine, by her brother John, and also by a number of dear in-laws: Pastor Edward and Alice Zell, Effie Griep, Alice “Chick” Zell, Pastor Waldemar and Ruth Zarling, Pastor Edward and Jayne Zell, and Oscar Barthels.

Marian’s surviving family includes her four children and their spouses: Peter (Teri) Zell of Wasilla, Alaska; Sarah (Jim) Guenther of Franklin, Wisconsin; Karla (Mark) Schwertfeger of Waterford, Wisconsin; and Pastor Paul (Cathy) Zell of Hendersonville, North Carolina. In addition, she is survived by ten grandchildren: her son Peter’s son Casey Zell; her daughter Sarah’s daughters Rachel (John) Backus, Naomi (Russ) Boerner, and Natalie Buerhaus; her daughter Karla’s children Jacob Schwertfeger, Hannah (Kyle) Hermes, and Leah (Paul) Voss; and her son Paul’s children Joseph Zell, Emily (Matt) Rothe, and Heidi Zell. Marian is also survived by her sixteen great-grandchildren Eve, Faith, Anna, Bethany, Abigail, Ava, Isaiah, Emma, Evelyn, Noah, Ezekiel, Sadie, Jack, Julian, Gabriel, and Julia and also by her sister-in-law Hazel Barthels.

A celebration of God’s grace will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Mishicot, Wisconsin, with Pastors Joel Stuebs and Robert Johannes officiating. Visitation with the family will begin at 10 am. A committal service celebrating the certain hope of the resurrection will follow at the Mishicot Public Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Luther Preparatory School of Watertown, Wisconsin or according to the donor’s choice.

The Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home of Mishicot is assisting the Zell family with funeral arrangements.

“I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23).