Larry Lynn Zenke

He was born on August 19th, 1939, to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Zenke in Galesville, WI, and graduated from high school in Galesville in 1957, along with his wife, Jo Ann, to whom he was married for 58 years. They attended the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse together, where they both majored in education. He later completed the requirements for a Doctorate in Education degree at the University of Florida. Following a professional career of nearly four decades in public education in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Florida, Dr. Zenke retired after having served as an urban school system superintendent for twenty-one years in Tulsa, OK, and Jacksonville, FL.

Jo Ann, his high school sweetheart, preceded him in death on April 3rd, 2017, after being diagnosed with cancer years earlier. She retired from Sabal Palm Elementary School, where she taught kindergarten for many years. Dr. Zenke was also preceded in death by one brother, two sisters, and his 27-year-old grandson, Hunter Kelly. He is survived by two daughters, Lisa (Rick) Higgins and Kristin (Tony) Ramscar; three grandchildren, Tyler Kelly, Hannah Kelly, and Jackson Smith; two step-grandchildren, Josh (Taily) Ramscar and Livie Ramscar (all of Jacksonville); as well as Luca and Lila; his beloved Betsy Thompson; and brother-in-law Tom (Sheila) Zahorik of Eau Claire, WI, and brother-in-law Lowell (Bonnie) Trocinski of La Crosse, WI; numerous nieces and nephews; and his precious dog Sophie.

Anyone desiring to make a donation is requested to make the donation to the American Cancer Society, for which Dr. Zenke served as a volunteer driver for five years in retirement, driving patients to their various doctors’ appointments and cancer treatments.