Obituary of Lance Zellmann

Lance Zellmann, age 66, of St Cloud, formerly of Lewiston and Redwood Falls (RWF), died peacefully surrounded by loving family at his home July 15, 2015, after a courageous battle with amyloidosis. Funeral Services will be Sunday, July 26 at 12 noon at the West Union Lutheran Church, Cologne, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Lance was baptized, confirmed, and married at this country church. Lance was born in 1949 to Leslie and Mildred (Nord) Zellmann. He grew up on a dairy farm near Belle Plaine, attended a country school, and graduated from Belle Plaine HS, where he was Pres. and VP of his class, active in the Student Council, and played basketball and baseball. He earned a master’s degree in education and a principal’s license from Mankato State University. He taught social studies and math in RWF from 1972-1999 where he met and married his soulmate, LuAnn (Lillevold) in 1977. Together they had three sons, Peter, Mark, and David. The family took a two year leave to teach at the Karachi American School in Karachi, Pakistan from 1992-1994. In 1999 the family moved to Lewiston, MN where he was a HS principal until 2007. He finished his career as a HS principal and co-superintendent at the Universal American School in Kuwait, retiring in 2010. The years with the family were spent camping, playing tennis and golf, water skiing at the cabin, playing with the grandchildren, reading, and traveling to over 30 countries. He also enjoyed numerous home construction projects including building a geodesic dome home. Lance was an incredible leader of the Education 2000 project in RWF, negotiated teacher contracts, advocated with a passion for teachers’ rights, was president of the RWF Education Assoc., was RWF Teacher of the Year, a Sunday School teacher, church council member and president, and the Redwood County DFL Chair. He was a man of integrity and unwavering faith. He is survived by his loving wife, LuAnn of St. Cloud, MN; sons Peter (Shawna) Zellmann of West Fargo, ND, Mark (Rachel) Zellmann of St. Cloud, MN, David (Emily) Zellmann of Moorhead, MN; siblings Lowell (Diane) Zellmann, Diane (Don) Koepp, Layton (Linda) Zellman, Larry Zellman, Leslie (Kristi) Zellmann, and Loren (Brenda) Zellman; grandchildren Ethan, Sadie, Brielle, Kinsley, Keaton, George, Benjamin, and Sophia; many sisters and brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Leon Zellmann, sister-in-law Susie Zellmann, and sister-in-law Lois Zellman.