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Zahn, Dale R.

Dale R. Zahn, age 66 of the Town of Pella, Shawano County, passed away unexpectedly Friday afternoon, October 2, 2015 of natural causes while doing what he loved to do, driving his Gator and getting ready for evening chores.

Dale was born on March 14, 1949 in Clintonville as the son of the late Orville and Alvina (Krueger) Zahn. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Pella Opening Church where he was a life-long member. He lived his entire life in the Town of Pella and graduated from Clintonville High School in 1967. Dale also attended farm management classes at Fox Valley Technical College. He was united in marriage to Mary Grunewald on February 28, 1985 in Las Vegas, NV. Through their 30 years of marriage, Dale and Mary raised three children: Mike, Heidi, and Ryan where they shared their love for faith, family, and farming everyday. As a member of St. Peter’s, Dale enjoyed playing church dartball, held various church offices, and volunteered on many occasions. He was also active in the community with Pella Rural 4-H and the Shawano Equity Board. As a fifth generation farmer he took pride in his farm which was recognized at the Wisconsin State Fair this past August as a Sesquicentennial Farm, for 150 years of continuous family farm ownership. Dale proclaimed to have only taken two days of vacation in his lifetime; his wedding day and his daughter’s wedding day. Work was a way of life for him and he never complained about it. As a caring neighbor, Dale would always be interested in what his friends and neighbors were doing. If you ever ran into him, you got a big smile from him and at least a 10 minute conversation. He had faith in his Lord and a deep love for his family; especially when it came to his new grandson.

Survivors include: his wife, Mary; children: Michael Zahn, Clintonville; Heidi (Cedric) Pettis, Clintonville; and Ryan (Kellie) Zahn, Marion; grandson, Everett Pettis; brothers, Dennis (Norma) Zahn, Clintonville and Ronald (Donna) Zahn, Appleton; father-in-law: Gust Grunewald, Caroline; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: William (special friend, Iris Lohff) Grunewald, Margaret (Terry) Gott, Henry (Carol) Grunewald, Julie Grunewald, and Eddie Grunewald. Dale was also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his mother-in-law, Virginia Grunewald.

Dale’s funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday October 6, 2015 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Pella Opening in the Town of Pella with Rev. Todd Jerabek officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery, also in the Town of Pella. Friends may call at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory in Clintonville from 4 – 8 p.m. on Monday and at the church on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. An online guestbook for Dale can be found at www.eberhardtstevenson.com. In lieu of flowers memorials would be appreciated by Dale’s family to St. Peter’s Pella Opening Church.

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