Dennis Zoll

ROBERTS, ZOLL, HART

Posted By: Daniel Zoll (email)
Date: 3/26/2010 at 13:32:30

ZOLL, DENNIS WILLIAM; age 75; passed away after a valiant year and a half battle with cancer on March 19, 2010; at the Genesys Hospice Care in Goodrich, MI. He was born April 26, 1934 in Waukon, Iowa.

He was the youngest of five children of Emmett and Irene (Ronan) Zoll. He grew up in rural Allamakee County and attended Hanover #4 elementary school. He graduated from St. Patrick's High School, Waukon in 1952. He attended the University of Northern Iowa before serving in the US Army, stationed in Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Fort Meade in Maryland. In an oddity of history, he served with Private G. David Schine of Senator McCarthy fame at Fort Meade. Dennis's working career was as a heavy equipment operator and he was a loyal member of the Operating Engineers, Local 324 for about 40 years, retiring in 1996. Local 324 members maintain and operate heavy equipment and are responsible for building and rebuilding Michigan's federal, state and local road systems.

One of Dennis's loves in life was flying. He held an instrument license and was qualified in multi-engine aircraft. He spent many hours flying in his favorite aircraft, a Cessna 310. An interesting antidote to his love of flying occurred in Alaska where he and his brother and sister-in-law scheduled a flight seeing trip over Glacier Bay. When the pilot showed up and escorted the group to the aircraft, Dennis proceeded to give the aircraft a detailed preflight inspection, noting every dent on the propeller and every gash on the tires. The scheduled pilot did not appreciate Dennis's diligent care. That flight almost ended before it started. Dennis enjoyed camping and traveling in his RV. He took trips around the continental United States with trips to Alaska and Nova Scotia thrown in. He particularly enjoyed traveling with his longtime friend, the late James Colvin. Dennis was never far from his roots, he loved flying "home" to visit old friends and buddies in Hanover and Dorchester. He was especially proud of his "Hanover City Council" hat which he wore with great joy.

In June, 1969 he married Patricia Roberts and from that union was born twins Donald and David and son Brian. He is survived by his sons, David (wife Susanne) and Brian (wife Melissa); grandson, Otto; step-children, Victoria Hart, Dann Hart, Jon Hart and Stewart Hart III; brothers, Harold and Daniel and sisters, Ann and Helen. He was preceded in death by his son, Donald who died in a traffic accident in 1986.

Funeral Service was conducted Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at Immaculate Conception Church, Lapeer. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Fund of Michigan.