Lydia Zenzen

Lydia M. Zenzen, age 103, of Meire Grove, died peacefully with her daughter by her side on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 3 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. followed by a rosary from the St. John’s Society at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Lydia Mary Schmiesing was born March 24, 1918, in Getty Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Herman and Theresa (Petermeier) Schmiesing. She attended country school in Getty Township. She had a desire to continue her education but being the seventh child of nine, she was needed at home to help with family obligations. On May 5, 1941, she was united in marriage to Clarence Zenzen at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove. The couple farmed near Meire Grove in Getty Township for seven years then moved to Meire Grove.

Lydia was an avid quilter and was a cook for many weddings and anniversaries at church. She enjoyed reading, baking, watching the MN Twins, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune.

She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Poor Soul’s Society, and Rosary Society.

Survivors include her daughter, Aurelia Schwanke of St. Cloud; son-in-law, Steve Uphus of Hastings; grandchildren, Brian, Bruce, Bradley, and Barry Uphus, Daryl Zenzen, Sara Decker, Bethany Krattenmaker, Debbie Remaly, Chris Zenzen, Tina Aagard, Joe Zenzen, and Patty Turner; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Lydia was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Zenzen on December 8, 2005; her parents; children, Anna Mae Uphus, Albin Zenzen, and Arthur Zenzen; son-in-law, David Schwanke; daughters-in-law, JoAnn Zenzen and Mary Zenzen; brothers, Henry, Ervin, and Alphonse Schmiesing; sisters, Ann Schmiesing, Agnes Meyer, Alvina Zenzen, Clara Clobes, Alma Meyer, and Bernadine “Bernie” Schmiesing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.