Walter J. Zellmer

Mankato Mortuary 1001 North Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-2202 Walter ("Wally") J. Zellmer, age 94, Mankato, MN, died on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at Oaklawn Health Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2014, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Mankato, with Father Mariano Verela IVE officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2014, at Mankato Mortuary from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to SS Peter & Paul's Catholic Church, Mankato Area Catholic Schools, VFW Post 9713 Morson-Ario, or donor's choice. Wally was born on September 9, 1920, to Frank and Magdalena Zellmer in Mankato, Minnesota. Wally was raised in a home by Franklin school, which now is the back parking lot for Mankato Mortuary. Wally was united in marriage to Esther Rstom on March 20, 1945 while home on leave from the Navy. Wally left high school to provide for his parents, working many years for Mocol's Trucking and Grocery. Wally served in the United States Navy from 1942 - 1945, serving on the USS Marblehead - Light Cruiser as a baker and while under attack a antiaircraft gunner. Wally saw service in the South Atlantic, North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea during the invasion of Southern France. Following his discharge from the Navy, Wally spent most of his adult life working in the grocery business, many years at Goettl's Grocery, formally located in lower North Mankato, which later became Jack & Jill Grocery Store. Wally also worked for Mueller's Grocery Store on the Mankato hilltop. Wally finished his working career at Hiniker Company as a machinist. Wally's hobbies included fishing, pheasant hunting and bowling. Wally was a great dad. He always included his children in his hobbies. When his children were young, he was their Little League coach. Wally loved to spend his free time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wally served as a member of the VFW military honor guard at veterans funerals. While in his 60's, one of Wally's proudest moments was when he went back to school with his son Steve, with both receiving a high school degree Wally is survived by his wife Esther; his children and their families: daughter, Sandra (Allen) Griffith from Fairfax, Virginia, granddaughters, Krista Griffith and Lauri (Barry) Huitena, and great-grandchildren, Thomas and Grace; son, Gary (Mary) Zellmer, granddaughter, Jessica (Nathan) Kirschner, and great-grandchildren, Collin and Charlotte, and granddaughter, Amy (Eric) Enevold; son, Randy (Sandra) Zellmer, granddaughter, Alysha (Brad) Smook, and great-grandchildren, Drew, Eric and Maria, and granddaughter, Nichole (Thomas) Berg; son, Steven Zellmer, and former daughter-in-law, Sharon, grandson, Matthew (Jeni) Zellmer, granddaughter, Sara (Shaun) Fitzner, step great-granddaughter, Kayla and great-grandson, Noah; son, John (Jody) Zellmer, grandsons, Sam, Alex and Max, Sister-in laws, Jeanette Rstom, Delores Weimer, Virginia Kruse, Carol Schefter and her husband Joe and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Wally is predeceased in death by his parents, son, Joseph Zellmer, granddaughters, Holly and Heather Zellmer, brother, Harry Zellmer, and his wife, Rose; sister, Della Haefner, and her husband, Ralph; sister, Florence Evans, and her husband, Maury, brother-in-law, George Rstom; brother-in-law, Robert Weimer; brother-in-law, Herbert Rstom, and his wife, Donna Rstom; and brother-in-law, Dennis Kruse. Wally's family would like to thank the many home health care workers from Pathstone, the Oaklawn staff and Dr. Stitt.