MOORE, Hazel Nalia (Zwerneman) 1908-2004

MOORE, ZWERNEMAN, LARSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/18/2009 at 11:29:26

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA — Memorial services for Hazel Nalia Zwerneman Moore, 96, who passed away Sunday (July 18, 2004) at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, with Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial will be in Newburg Cemetery, Carpenter.

Hazel was born Feb. 29, 1908, in Carpenter, the eldest daughter of Charles Philip Zwerneman and Hilda Marie (Larson) Zwerneman. Following the death of her mother in 1914, Hazel made her home with her grandmother, Maren Larson, of Carpenter. Hazel attributed much of her success in life to the influence of Grandma Larson, as she was a stern but fair and loving person. Hazel was confirmed in the Christian faith at Deer Creek Church in Carpenter on March 6, 1923.

As one of a small high school class, Hazel was called upon to assist in teaching other students at Carpenter Consolidated Schools when one of the instructors fell ill. She graduated from Carpenter High School in 1926. After her high school graduation she attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City. Hazel was employed at a law office in Northwood when an opportunity arose that took her to employment in Washington, D.C.

She was employed as a civil servant in the Federal and State Labor Departments, House of Representatives, Treasury and Labor Departments, U. S. Customs, and Selective Service System. While she was working, Hazel also found time to attend law school at Columbia University. During this time she met Robert Lee Moore, a special agent for the FBI, whom she later married in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Nov. 11, 1941. Their union was blessed by the arrival of their cherished daughter, Margaret Lee Moore, on Sept. 29, 1942.

Hazel, Robert and Margaret resided in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Robert continued to work for the government. He was issued the first pass to Hickam Field following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Robert’s employment took them to Nevada, where he was head of the Nevada State Gaming Commission. Hazel was employed as secretary to the Nevada Gaming Board, and later became personal secretary to Governor Grant Sawyer of Nevada.

The family eventually returned to Hawaii, where Robert started Robert L. Moore Associates, a private investigation firm. He was self-employed at this firm until his death on June 22, 1965. Hazel was employed at the State House in Honolulu until Robert’s death, when she retuned to Washington, D.C., where she was employed until her retirement. She moved several times, eventually returning to the Midwest. She always said that now she had made the “full circle,” having returned to her roots in the Carpenter area.

She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Lee Moore, of St. Ansgar; half-sister, Mrs. Glen (Mildred) Martin of Bloomington, Minn.; a niece, Laurel Kimber of St. Ansgar; nephew, Lee Zwerneman of Choteau, Mont.; and great nieces and nephews, Sarah Calhoon, Katie Kimber, Amanda Kimber, Lynette Dodson, Charles Zwerneman, David Zwerneman, Craig Zwerneman and Crist Zwerneman as well as many cousins and a host of friends.

Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Moore; her parents, Charles and Hilda Zwerneman; brothers, Carl and Lloyd Zwerneman; a sister, Laura Plummer; nephew, Lloyd P. Zwerneman, Jr.; stepmother; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; two step-sisters and a step-brother.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, (641) 713-4920.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]