Alice Zako Obituary

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Alice Grenz

BISMARCK, N.D. - Alice Zako, 67, died May 6, 2001 in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Stephen Wisthoff officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

Alice Schauer was born July 16, 1933, in Napoleon, N.D. She was raised in Napoleon, where she graduated from high school. Alice attended business college in Bismarck before working at J.C. Penney in downtown Bismarck.

She met Leonard Zako while he was trying to tie her shoes at a dance in the basement of the World War Memorial Building. Their romance included stops at their favorite spots, the OK Confectionery and Finks Cafe, where the jukebox played their favorite tunes.

They later tied the knot on Nov. 7, 1953, at Huntington Park, Calif., where Leonard was stationed with the United States Navy. They lived in Bismarck, where Alice devoted her life to her family.

She and Leonard had an open-door policy that made family and friends feel welcome and comfortable. Alice wanted people, especially children, to know what it meant to have a home, and she worked to make an environment where you could grow, be safe and know you were loved.

Alice is survived by her husband, Leonard; her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Karen, Rapid City; her daughters and son-in-law, Cindy and Mike LaBere, Mandan, N.D., and Laurie Zako, Bismarck, N.D.; her grandchildren, Shane and Jeremy Zako, Derek, Daren, and Carrie LaBere, and Hunter Zako; her great-grandchildren, Taylor Zako, Hannah Zako, Nickolas Zako, Ryan Zako, and Audrey Zako; her mother-in-law, Carrie Zako, Bismarck, N.D.; her sister-in-law, Carol, California; her brothers, Walter Schauer, Napoleon, N.D., Allan Schauer, Marysville, Wash., and Weston Schauer, Beulah, N.D.; and her sisters, Phyllis Hall, Georgia and Maxine Perkins, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Lydia (Grenz) Schauer.

Eastgate Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Zako

On Nov. 5, at the age of 86, and after a battle with COVID, with his daughters by his side, Len Zako passed from this life to the next as he entered into the joy of the Lord and was reunited with his beloved wife, Alice.

Len served his country in the U.S. Navy then worked with Allstate for over 30 years during which time he made many friends and served his clients well. Most of all, Len was a wonderful and doting son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His entire family meant the world to him. His grandchildren and his dog Gracie brought him so much joy.

Len was known for his incredible sense of humor, his generous heart, his dedication to his family, his easy going nature and his love of ketchup....on everything!
He will be remembered with much love and gratitude and will be greatly missed. Per his request a private memorial service will be planned.