1928
Nick
2014
Nick Zander
May 12, 1928 — November 9, 2014
Nick Zander, 86, Bismarck, formerly of Mandan, died November 9, 2014 at his residence in Bismarck.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, November 14, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Nick Schneider as celebrant. Burial will be at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 10:00 am, with military honors provided by Mandan VFW Post #707 and American Legion Post #40.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 14, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 7:00 pm followed by a parish vigil. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Nick was born on May 12, 1928 in Morton County to George and Mary (Schmidt) Zander. He was raised and educated in rural Morton County. Nick served in the United States Army from 1950-1952. He earned his high school diploma at Fort Hood, Texas. After his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas he was sent to Korea serving with the 27th Regimental Combat Team which saw extensive action at the Iron Triangle. Nick was proud of his service to his country and earned the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and The Combat Infantry Badge. Nick would share with his grandchildren that he lived in a fox hole for a solid year.
In 1952 Nick was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He returned to the Mandan area and went to work for Northern Pacific Railroad. Nick married Dorothy Schauss on January 15, 1955 in Mandan. They made their home and raised their children in Mandan. Nick retired from the Northern Pacific /Burlington Northern Railroad in 1991 after 40 years of service. He also served on the Mandan Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years, delivered Meals on Wheels and belonged to RSVP. Nick was a member of the American Legion for 56 years and was inducted into the North Dakota Railroad Museum Hall of Fame. He was a talented craftsman and enjoyed making willow canes and memory boxes. He and Dorothy enjoyed their land and shop south of Mandan. He enjoyed camping and fishing. Family was the focus of Nick’s life. He loved his children and grandchildren above all.
Nick will be deeply missed by his daughters, Lynn (Ron) Crouse, Mandan, ND, Kelly Graner, Bismarck, ND and Kyla (Brian) Flaa, Greeley, CO; sons, Kevin (Julie), Walla Walla, WA and Lee (Cindy), Mandan, ND; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Irene Kautzman, Center, ND and Clara Schaff, Glen Ullin, ND; brother, Max Zander, Mandan, ND.
Nick was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy who died in 1995; son-in-law, Doug Graner; sisters, Veronica Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Helen Ivester, Rose Erhardt and Monica Lever; brothers, Ralph, Harry and Joseph; and special friend, Shirley Toole.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, November 14, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Nick Schneider as celebrant. Burial will be at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 10:00 am, with military honors provided by Mandan VFW Post #707 and American Legion Post #40.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 14, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 7:00 pm followed by a parish vigil. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Nick was born on May 12, 1928 in Morton County to George and Mary (Schmidt) Zander. He was raised and educated in rural Morton County. Nick served in the United States Army from 1950-1952. He earned his high school diploma at Fort Hood, Texas. After his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas he was sent to Korea serving with the 27th Regimental Combat Team which saw extensive action at the Iron Triangle. Nick was proud of his service to his country and earned the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and The Combat Infantry Badge. Nick would share with his grandchildren that he lived in a fox hole for a solid year.
In 1952 Nick was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He returned to the Mandan area and went to work for Northern Pacific Railroad. Nick married Dorothy Schauss on January 15, 1955 in Mandan. They made their home and raised their children in Mandan. Nick retired from the Northern Pacific /Burlington Northern Railroad in 1991 after 40 years of service. He also served on the Mandan Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years, delivered Meals on Wheels and belonged to RSVP. Nick was a member of the American Legion for 56 years and was inducted into the North Dakota Railroad Museum Hall of Fame. He was a talented craftsman and enjoyed making willow canes and memory boxes. He and Dorothy enjoyed their land and shop south of Mandan. He enjoyed camping and fishing. Family was the focus of Nick’s life. He loved his children and grandchildren above all.
Nick will be deeply missed by his daughters, Lynn (Ron) Crouse, Mandan, ND, Kelly Graner, Bismarck, ND and Kyla (Brian) Flaa, Greeley, CO; sons, Kevin (Julie), Walla Walla, WA and Lee (Cindy), Mandan, ND; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Irene Kautzman, Center, ND and Clara Schaff, Glen Ullin, ND; brother, Max Zander, Mandan, ND.
Nick was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy who died in 1995; son-in-law, Doug Graner; sisters, Veronica Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Helen Ivester, Rose Erhardt and Monica Lever; brothers, Ralph, Harry and Joseph; and special friend, Shirley Toole.
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