Mary Lou Zierott 1930 - 2009

ZIEROTT, RUHLBERG, MEYER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/27/2013 at 10:51:26

Sioux City Journal
13 November 2009

SIOUX CITY -- Mary Lou Zierott, 79, of Eagan, Minn., formerly of Sioux City, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomington, Minn.

Services in Sioux City will be at a later date. Abiding by her wishes, the body was cremated.

Mary Lou was born April 5, 1930, in Sioux City, the daughter of Henry H. and Maria A. (Ruhlberg) Meyer. She attended Crescent Park Elementary and North Junior in Sioux City. She attended Concordia High School in Seward, Neb, from 1944 until graduating in 1948. She then attended Concordia College from 1948 until graduating with an associate degree in 1950. She also attended Morningside College in Sioux City from 1960 to 1962, graduating with a bachelor's degree. She completed her graduate studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

She was united in marriage to Ralf Zierott on July 6, 1953. She was later married to C. Bruce Hunt from 1963 to 1981. She was then remarried to Ralf Zierott in 1982.

She had lived in Sioux City from 1930 to 1953, Sioux Falls, S.D. from 1953 to 1960, then returned to Sioux City, where she lived from 1960 to 1975. She lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1975 to 1976, returning to Sioux City in 1976. She remained in Sioux City until moving to the Twin Cities area in 1982.

She was employed as a teacher. She taught at St. John's Lutheran School in Columbus, Neb., from 1950 to 1951, St. Paul's Lutheran School in Sioux City from 1951 to 1952. She then taught at Riverview Elementary School in Sioux City from 1960 to 1981. She also taught at Step By Step Montessori in Eden Prairie, Minn. She received the Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America award in 1973.

She was a member of Sioux City Education Association, Iowa State Education Association and National Education Association, where she was the 25th District chairman. She was a member of SAGE, Alpha Delta Kappa Gamma and American Childhood Education Association, where she served as vice president from 1970 to 1971. She was a member of Westside Republican Women, Young Republicans, State Convention delegate, Cosmopolitan and Cosmopals. She was a member of the YWCA, PTA and the third vice president of the AAUW. She was a member of the National Science Foundation Grant for three semesters in Elementary Science in 1972.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sioux City from 1930 to 1965, where she was confirmed and taught Sunday School, Concordia Lutheran Church from 1965 to 1981, Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minn. from 1981 to present.

Her love of her own children was only surpassed by her love of teaching and the hundreds of students she taught over the years. She was a devoted wife, mother and a Christian woman of great faith. She was an avid reader and continued to learn throughout her life. She loved spending time with her friends and family, vacationing at Lewis and Clark Lake. She was a lover of animals including her bassett, springer spaniel and Siamese cat. She enjoyed gardening, nature and instilled a love of music in her children. She spent hours reading books to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a highly refined sense of humor and her laughter was contagious. She played a mean ukulele and loved the Minnesota Vikings.

Survivors include her husband, Ralf Zierott of Eagan, Minn.; two sons, Michael Zierott of Minneapolis and David Zierott of Roseville, Minn.; a daughter, Rebecca Boyd of Sioux City; a sister, Katherine Dunker of Omaha; grandchildren, Nicole Stalcup of Hawaii, Tina Hunt of Camarillo, Calif., Seth Haskins, Sarah Zimmerman and Henry Zimmerman, all of Sioux City; and great-grandchildren, Ezra Kaina and Nanea Stalcup of Hawaii.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Henry H. and Maria A. Meyer.

Pallbearers will be Michael Zierott, David Zierott, Dr. Daniel Dunker, Thomas Dunker and Patrick Dunker.

Memorials may be directed to the Hospice Association.