LAKEWOOD - When Rupert Zehnder retired at 65 without a pension and with a son in college, he went into business for himself. He began delivering frozen seafood, primarily shrimp to customers throughout Greater Cleveland. He maintained the route for 20 years.
He was active at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lakewood, where he was a lead tenor in the choir for more than 60 years. He sang his last solo at his grandson's wedding when he was 89.
He moved from Westlake 11 years ago to live with his daughter in Lakewood. He suffered a stroke in 1994. He had been a resident of the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Westlake since that time.
Mr. Zehnder died at the nursing home Wednesday. He was 93.
He was born in Cleveland, one of 13 children. He left East Technical High School after a year to help support his family. He had worked as a barber for 25 years in his own shop on Madison Ave. in Lakewood, then became a purchasing agent for Earnest Machine Products in Cleveland.
His wife, Eleanor, died in 1995. They had been married 60 years.
Mr. Zehnder is survived by sons, Donald of Fort Myers, Fla., Frederick of Virginia Beach, Va., David of Bay Village, William of Alexandria, Va., and Lawrence of Chattanooga, Tenn.; daughters, Rhoda Henry of Fallbrook, CA, and Elizabeth Puls and Susan Jirgens of Lakewood; 25 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 15501 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Zeis-McGrevey Funeral Home of Lakewood.
Published: Plain Dealer 1997-04-05 B 9
LAKEWOOD - When Rupert Zehnder retired at 65 without a pension and with a son in college, he went into business for himself. He began delivering frozen seafood, primarily shrimp to customers throughout Greater Cleveland. He maintained the route for 20 years.
He was active at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lakewood, where he was a lead tenor in the choir for more than 60 years. He sang his last solo at his grandson's wedding when he was 89.
He moved from Westlake 11 years ago to live with his daughter in Lakewood. He suffered a stroke in 1994. He had been a resident of the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Westlake since that time.
Mr. Zehnder died at the nursing home Wednesday. He was 93.
He was born in Cleveland, one of 13 children. He left East Technical High School after a year to help support his family. He had worked as a barber for 25 years in his own shop on Madison Ave. in Lakewood, then became a purchasing agent for Earnest Machine Products in Cleveland.
His wife, Eleanor, died in 1995. They had been married 60 years.
Mr. Zehnder is survived by sons, Donald of Fort Myers, Fla., Frederick of Virginia Beach, Va., David of Bay Village, William of Alexandria, Va., and Lawrence of Chattanooga, Tenn.; daughters, Rhoda Henry of Fallbrook, CA, and Elizabeth Puls and Susan Jirgens of Lakewood; 25 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 15501 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. Zeis-McGrevey Funeral Home of Lakewood.
Published: Plain Dealer 1997-04-05 B 9
Family Members
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Victor Max Zehnder
1900–1990
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Rev Clement Richard Zehnder
1902–1971
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Paul Ernest Zehnder
1905–1997
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Lucia Estella Zehnder Walker
1907–2010
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Phillip George Zehnder
1909–2006
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Elsa Johanna Barbara Zehnder Bracken
1911–2002
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Elsa Johanna Zehnder Bracken
1911–2002
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Clara Louise Zehnder Naegele
1913–2006
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Fredrick John Zehnder
1914–1995
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Ada Bertha Zehnder Hagedorn
1916–1964
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