Lenore R. Zehnder

Mrs. Lenore R. Zehnder, age 101 years, died Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Bay Shores Nursing Center. She was born in Riga, Michigan on February 4, 1916, to The Rev. Otto M. and Frederica Eckert. Lenore was the youngest of eight children. In 1929, the family moved to Saginaw where she attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary and then worked at Michigan Bell until 1942 when she married The Rev. Dr. Herman F. Zehnder who was assistant pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1946, Rev. Zehnder accepted the position of pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bay City. Lenore's life was centered on her family and the church. Beginning in 1949, she and her husband sponsored and opened their home to almost 200 World War II refugees from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland. Lenore served on the board of Lutheran Child and Family Services and volunteered many hours of service to the Economy Center.
The Rev. Dr. Herman F. Zehnder predeceased her in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her son, Timothy in 2016, her parents, three brothers, four sisters and a son-in-law, Colm O'Hare. She is survived by four children, Elizabeth O'Hare, Kitty (Perry) Trombley, John (Janet) Zehnder and Miriam (Robert) Donahue; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.
The Funeral Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church. Officiating will be Rev. William H. Allwardt followed by Christian Interment at St. Lorenz Church Cemetery in Frankenmuth. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home on Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Mrs. Zehnder will lie instate at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church or Lutheran Child and Family Services. www.gephartfuneralhome.com