Gerald W. Zinke, 72, of Mendota died Dec. 10,
2013, in his home surrounded by family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. John's
Lutheran Church, Mendota with the Rev. Dale Peterson officiating.
Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota with
military rites by VFW Post 4079.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday in Merritt Funeral Home,
Mendota.
Mr. Zinke was born May 17, 1941, in Mendota to William
and Marie (Ponto) Zinke. He married Donna Billhorn on
May 13, 1967, in St. John's Lutheran Church, Mendota.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1963
and served in Germany until his discharge in October 1965.
He worked for 50 years at Fasco Mills (now ADM) from the
time of his graduation from high school until his retirement.
He was a longtime member of the Elks club and Optimist
club in Mendota. He had a passion for coaching youth baseball.
After coaching each of his three sons through Little League, he
continued to be active in the league. His hobbies included trains
(both large and small), fishing trips to Wisconsin, hunting trips
to Texas, gardening at home and farming.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Donna of Mendota;
three sons, Kevin (Julie) Zinke of League City, Texas,
Keith (Cindy) Zinke of Dixon and Kyle (Heather Barrett) Zinke of
Mendota; eight grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren,
Taylor and McKenna of League City, Texas, Brantley,
Lauryn, Patrick and Tyler of Dixon, Avery, Kelcey, Kylee,
Hayden, Garret, Gracie and Jenna of Mendota; one brother,
Jeff (Jackie) Zinke of West Brooklyn; and two sisters,
Judy (Don) Pierce of Paw Paw and Janet (Larry) Barker of
Mendota.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be directed to Mendota Little League.