Howard Wayne Zierke

Howard W Zierke, age 86, of Blue Earth, died Saturday, September 1, 2012, at St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 04, 2012, at 10:00 AM, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, with Rev. Wesley Hafner officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Visitation time will be Monday, September 4, 2012 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street in Blue Earth and one hour prior to the service at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comHe was born December 26, 1925, at home in Elmore Townhship, MN, the son of Henry Zierke and Hilda Madetzke. He grew up in Elmore, and graduated from Elmore High School in 1943. After graduating he entered the United States Navy for 2 years. Returning home in 1945 he began farming with his father on the Zierke family farm. On November 24, 1951 he married Mae Jean Leach Bassett at the First United Methodist Church in Blue Earth. Howard liked to read, enjoyed fishing, flying, watching football & baseball, and most of all, traveling to see family. He was member of the VFW, and a lifetime member of the American Legion. He is survived by his spouse, Mae Jean Zierke of Blue Earth, son Mark (Diane) Bassett of Chippewa Falls, WI, son Neal (Denise) Zierke of Haymarket, VA, daughter Jennifer (Randy) Hauth of New Ulm, MN, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Craig Zierke, daughter Stephanie Teynor, brother Merle Zierke, sister Marilyn Jordan, and parents.