ZINZOW, Marvin F.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Marvin F. Zinzow, 88, died Monday, July 20, 2009, at UW-Madison Hospital from complications following surgery. He was born Aug. 18, 1920, in Sheridan, Dunn County, Wis. to Albert and Viola (Fenner) Zinzow. He was a graduate of Lake Geneva High School. On Oct. 10, 1942, he married Gwendolyn R. Archambault in Delavan. He was a sergeant in the 7th Army, 103D Division, U.S. Army 382 F.A.B.N. Service Battery from 1942 to 1945. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, Battle of France, and the Battle of Germany during World War II. He was proud to be a World War II veteran and shared many of his experiences with his family and friends. He was a skilled carpenter, who never retired from his profession. In 1947, he established Zinzow Construction in Elkhorn. Evidence of his work can be found throughout Walworth County and elsewhere. He was most proud of Lake Lawn Lodge where he built all the additions from 1947 to 1979. In 1979, he moved with his wife to Lake Havasu City and started MZ Builders. He built homes with his sons in Arizona until returning to Elkhorn in 1989. At that time, it became Marv Zinzow Builders. Rather than retire, he continued as a homebuilder and re-modeler until his death. As a contractor and carpenter throughout his 88 years, he mentored many in the construction profession, including his sons and grandsons. In his earlier years, he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed snowmobiling. He was a past member of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs, Lauderdale Lakes Sno-Drifters and St. Germain Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club. He enjoyed fishing in Minnesota and Canada with his family and fishing buddies. Elkhorn was the recipient of his community services. When a project needed expertise from a carpenter, he was always ready to help. He was a member of the Elkhorn Lions Club for 25 years beginning in 1954, past-president, and was Lion of the Year in 1958, 1972 and 1979. During the recent Elkhorn Library and Community Center project, he donated his time and labor with his son, Mike, and grandson, Nathan, installing the kitchen in the Community Center. He is survived by his wife, Gwen; one son, Marvin A. (Marcia) Zinzow; two daughters, Judy (Grant) Wiswell, Nancy (Jake) Jacobson; one daughter-in-law, Patricia Zinzow, all of Elkhorn; three sisters, Betty Trombetta, West Bend, Wis., Shirley Dane, Randolph, Wis., Verna (Walt) Thompson, West Bend, Wis.; nine grandchildren, Jeff (Shannon) Wiswell, Brent (Cindy) Wiswell, Sid (Angie) Wiswell, Michelle (Jaimie) Bally, Bart Jacobson, Jason (Abbey) Zinzow, Nathan Zinzow, Erica Zinzow, Ryan Zinzow; seven great-grandchildren Jena, Morgan, Brittany, Nicole, Timothy and Dawson Wiswell, Riley Bally. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Michael, and his brother, Kenneth. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. July 27, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church, 111 N. Broad St., Elkhorn, with the Rev. Robert Peiffer officiating. Burial with Military Rites will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Town of Sugar Creek. A visitation will be held July 26, 3-7 p.m. at the Haase Derrick Lockwood Funeral Home, 730 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. For online obituary and guest registry, visit www.hdlfuneralhomes.com. Marv was a carpenter, a mentor, a builder of bricks and mortar, a kind friend and above all a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He will always be in our hearts.