Pastor William George Zell was born on Oct. 19, 1922, in Mishicot, the son of Pastor Edward Zell and Alice nee Jindra. He departed this life to be with the Lord Jesus on Oct. 10, 2009, at the age of 86 years, 11 months, and 21 days.

By holy baptism he was graciously joined to his Savior on Nov. 5, 1922, and he was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Mishicot on Dec. 22, 1935. Bill’s formal education began across the street from home at the Mishicot Graded School. In 1936 he followed the footsteps of his father and older brother and was enrolled in the preparatory department (high school) of Northwestern College in Watertown, Wis. He finished his pre-seminary training and received his diploma from Northwestern in June 1944. Within two weeks he began his studies at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Thiensville, where the campus schedule was accelerated during the last months of the Second World War. Shortly after the war, Bill taught English and directed the band and choirs on an interim basis at Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac. He graduated from the seminary in 1947.

For his first post-seminary assignment, Bill returned to Northwestern College, this time as tutor for one year. Duties for Tutor Zell included teaching, supervising the dormitory residents and coaching. He married Marian June Griep of Two Rivers on June 27, 1948. For their honeymoon they drove to Tacoma, Wash., where Bill was ordained and installed as pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church. Four years later, he and Marian returned to the Midwest with their two children, where Pastor Zell began serving Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kolberg, Wis. In 1957, after his family had been blessed with two more children, he accepted the Lord’s call to serve at Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minn.

In the fall of 1960, Bill returned to Watertown as professor of German at his alma mater. He taught on the college level and, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, in the preparatory school. For a number of years, Professor Zell chaired the planning committee for several campus-building projects. His first love may have been coaching, and not simply because he enjoyed athletics. On the football field, basketball court and out on the golf course Coach Zell relished his opportunities to encourage young men to continue their studies to become pastors.

A God-given gift for administration was recognized by the church when in 1974 Bill was called to be the first president of Northwestern Preparatory School. In that capacity, students, their parents and faculty colleagues saw a humble man who showed them love and respect. President Zell guided the school until his retirement in 1989. All told, he had served on the Northwestern campus for 30 of his 42 years in the ministry of the gospel.

He retired with Marian to Mishicot and joined St. Peter’s Lutheran, the congregation his father had served as pastor for 47 years. For most of his retirement years Pastor Zell preached regularly at area congregations throughout Manitowoc County. With Marian’s capable assistance he also kept his house, garage, and car spotless and his yard well-groomed. This was truly an orderly man.

William Zell is survived by his wife, Marian, and by their children Peter (Teri) of Wasilla, Ala.; Sarah (Karl) Grebe of Garden Grove, Calif.; Karla (Pastor Mark) Schwertfeger of Shakopee, Minn.; and Professor Paul (Catherine) of Mequon. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters: Ruth Zarling of Two Rivers and Hazel (Oscar) Barthels of Mishicot; and one sister-in-law: Jayne Zell of Westland, Mich.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: Alice and Evelyn; one brother: Pastor Edward Zell; and his in-laws: John and Effie Griep and Pastor Waldemar Zarling.

A Christian funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mishicot with Pastor Robert Johannes officiating. A committal service will follow at the Mishicot Public Cemetery. The Zell family also invites friends and relatives to a Monday evening visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lambert Eckert Funeral Home of Mishicot, or they may call at the church on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Mishicot; to the scholarship fund of Luther Preparatory School of Watertown; or according to the donor’s choice.

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on,’” (Revelation 14:13).

Herald Times Reporter

Oct. 11, 2009