Mary Kaye Zenk

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for Mary Kaye Zenk of Albert Lea will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Pastor Stohlmann will officiate. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Albert Lea. Mary’s family and friends are also invited to a visitation prior to the service at the church between 1–2 p.m. on Saturday. Online condolences are welcome at bayviewfuneral.com.

Following an acute illness, Mary passed away at age 49 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 in hospice care at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, with her family by her side. Mary was born November 17, 1967, the beloved daughter of Cecile (Holmen) Zenk and “Chuck” Harland Zenk of Albert Lea, and sister to David. She attended school in Albert Lea, where she made many life-long friendships, and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1986.

She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and graduated with studies in marketing and communications. Mary was active in the Alpha XI Delta sorority her four years in college and made many good friends there. Following college she returned to her beloved hometown of Albert Lea to work with her father at Zenk, Read, Trygstad and Associates for more than 20 years.

Mary was a kind and generous person, who adored her family and friends, and her animals. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. Throughout her life, Mary loved to create art and had a beautiful sense of style. She had a talent for decorating and gardening, and a flair for crafting holiday displays. Halloween was her favorite holiday, and her elaborate festive displays covering the entire house were astonishing. She also told the best spooky ghost stories.

Caring for animals was one of Mary’s greatest passions. Over the years, several pugs and a variety of rescue cats were her treasured companions. Her cherished quarter horse, Hustler Malone, was her mainstay for 27 years, and she enjoyed showing him in 4-H and Sunset Saddle Club competitions. She taught him how to give kisses, which he gave to her every time she did chores.

Mary is survived by her brother David Zenk of Arlington, Massachusetts and sister-in-law Julia Potter and niece Eliza Zenk, as well as many extended family members and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Harland Zenk and Cecile (Holmen) Zenk and her grandparents.

Memorials are welcome at Zion Lutheran Church, 924 Bridge Avenue, Albert Lea, MN 56007, and the Freeborn County Humane Society, P.O. Box 423, Albert Lea, MN 56007.

Please note the date for the Memorial Service has been changed to 2pm September 30th.