Russell “Russ” Duane Zincke, age 87, of Rochester, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Chosen Valley Nursing Home.
Russell “Russ” Duane Zincke was born on September 20, 1931, to William and Frances (Miland) Zincke. He went to school at Chosen Valley School and later received his GED. Russ married Alice Koopman and was later divorced. On August 9, 1963, he married Beata Ida Shaw at the United Methodist Church in Chatfield, Minn.
Russ served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Russ was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. While in the Army Russ learned to operate heavy equipment and after his military service he began his career in road construction. Russ later entered the apprenticeship for carpentry and became an excellent carpenter. He built two home with his wife Bea and his children. In 1980 when Russ and Bea built their home in Rochester, Russ went to work for the State of Minnesota at the State Hospital in Rochester. He later transferred to the Minnesota Department of Transportation where he drove snow plow and painted roads. He retired from the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 1998. Russ then went to work part-time driving Head Start Bus and later as a crossing guard. He adored children so driving the bus and being a crossing guard gave him happiness.
Russ was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Russ loved people and always had a smile for everyone and a hello. Russ enjoyed traveling, fishing, square dancing, and golfing. Russ was very active in the United Methodist Church because his faith was very important to him. Russ will be missed dearly for his smiles and hugs by his family and everyone who knew him.
Russ is survived by his wife Bea of 55 years, children Duane (Gail) Zincke of Ankeny, Iowa, Kenneth (Melissa) Zincke of Tampa, Fla., Monice (DeWaine) Smith of Rochester, Minn., and Keith (Paula) Zincke of Rochester, Minn.; stepdaughters Linda Grant of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Connie (Gerry) Nelson of Forest Lake, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Dolly Zincke of Chatfield, Minn.; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, six step grandchildren, and 10 step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Gordon, Erwin, Larry, and Raymond; and a sister, Lorraine Hedrick.
The funeral services for Russell will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, at the Chatfield United Methodist Church. The committal service with military honors by the Chatfield American Legion will be at the Pleasant Grove Union Cemetery, rural Chatfield, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 20, at the Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the United Methodist Church in Chatfield, Minn.
Riley Funeral Home is assisting the Zincke Family with the arrangements. To share a condolence with the family please visit www.rileyfuneralhomes.com.