Florence Zak, 77
Mass of Christian Burial for Florence Zak of Roseau will be on Thursday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseau. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Helgeson Funeral Chapel in Roseau with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Interment is at the Gust National Cemetery, Strathcona, MN.
Florence Zak was born to Sophie (Johnson) and Elmer Peterson on October 13, 1933 in Roseau County. She was adopted by Florian and Dorothy Gust and was raised in Poplar Grove Township. She also attended a country school there and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.
On September 10, 1952 Florence married Clarence Zak in Benwood. They lived in several places while Clarence worked on oil rigs. They later settled in Poplar Grove Township, Roseau County, where they farmed and raised their family. They were members of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benwood.
Florence worked at Polaris for over twenty years. She lived at her home until moving into the Summerfield apartments in Greenbush in 2004. Clarence passed away in 1978.
Florence enjoyed painting, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
She passed away on July 16, 2011 at LifeCare Manor in Roseau at the age of 77.
Florence is survived by twelve children: Evelyn (Herb) Skiple of Thief River Falls, Mark (Peggy) Zak of Strathcona, Delores (Don) Knoblauch of Fargo, Cheslyn (Tom) Poole of Fargo, Steven Zak of Hudson, CO, Michael (Dawn) Zak of Thompson, ND, Julie (Jeff) Anderson of Greenbush, Deb (Dale) Wiskow of Karlstad, Karen (Richard) Foss of Badger, Marilee (Noel) Svegdahl of Greenbush, Robert (LeeAnn) Zak of Faribault, and Mitchell (Shannon) Zak of Middle River; 31 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Florian and Dorothy Gust, and birth parents, Elmer and Sophie Peterson; husband Clarence; sister Helen Larson; brothers Leroy Peterson, Philip Gust, and Duane Gust; an infant baby girl and an infant grandchild.
