Henry F. Zeilmann

Henry Frank Zeilmann, age 98 of Linn, peacefully went to God's arms Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Westphalia Hills Retirement Center in Westphalia.

He was the son of the late Louis and Mary (Reinkemeyer) Zeilmann. He was born near Linn on September 22, 1911. He graduated from St. George School in 1927. After grade school, he went to work in his father's blacksmith shop. He and his brother Steve became co-owners of Zeilmann Brothers Shop in 1934.

On October 22, 1940, he married Irene Ann Ruettgers at St. George Church in Linn. She preceded him in death in 2009. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served in Okinawa and Guam. He served as Osage County Assessor for 20 years from 1953 to 1973 and as Linn City Clerk for many years. He and Irene built their retirement home near Linn in 1974.

He was a member of St. George Catholic Church, serving as a lector,a member of the choir, usher, and Holy Communion minister, and he helped with the upkeep of the parish property. He also was involved in the Catholic Knights, serving as state president, and a board member of the Western Catholic Union, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving as district president, the American Legion, the Osage County Republican Committee, and the Osage County Historical Society. He was a Distinguished Graduate of St. George School and received many other awards.

Henry spent all his life helping others. He was always willing to help at church when something needed to be done. He was a mechanic who could fix anything and a woodworker who could build anything. He would buy a piece of furniture and fix it or make a pattern from it and build more. He enjoyed bowling, dancing, farming, fishing and cutting wood until he was 95 years old. He lived a good Christian life of giving and caring. He was a good role model for his family and for everyone who knew him.

He is survived by: three daughters, Jacqueline A. and Fred Huhman of Jefferson City, Doris A. and Felix Frank of Rich Fountain and Deborah M. and Craig Cartney of Oella, Maryland; ten grandchildren, Scott, Shane, Curt and Craig Hale, Ann (Ponder), Dave, Rita (Franken), and Aaron Frank, and Doug and Jenny Cartney and thirteen great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and parents, Henry was preceded in death by: two brothers, Stephen and John Zeilmann; two sisters, Katherine Saunier and Elizabeth Samson.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at St. George Catholic Church in Linn with Fr. I.C. Medina as the Celebrant. Interment will follow at the St. George Church Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the St. George School Foundation or to the Good Shepard Food Pantry.