Connie M. Zettel

Connie May Zettel passed away Friday, January 26, 2007 at her West Branch home, surrounded by her family, after a lengthy illness. She was 65. Connie was born at home in Ogemaw County on Christmas Day, 1941, the daughter of Robert and Ella Schliter. She graduated from West Branch High School in 1960 and attended cosmetology school in Saginaw, graduating in 1961. Connie married Jake Zettel in 1961 and they raised three sons and a daughter. Connie was a hair dresser for 36 years in West Branch. She loved spending time with her family and close friends, and she enjoyed cooking, gardening, crocheting and camping. Connie and Jake spent more than 20 summers at Lost Valley Campground in Lupton. Connie gave her time and talents to her West Branch community and to the Catholic Church. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church for many years and was most recently a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church. She served as treasurer for the St. Joseph Ladies Aid, was secretary of St. Joe’s PTO, and taught religious education classes and Title 1 reading classes. Connie was chair of the Kiwanis Dinners for many years and helped organize and serve the Knights of Columbus sausage dinners for 32 years. She also helped prepare and serve countless funeral dinners. Connie was Treasurer of the Ogemaw County Democratic Party and hosted the Party committee meetings and worked in the Party office during elections. She was on the Ogemaw County Board of Canvassers for 12 years and was a Cub Scout den mother while her boys were involved in Scouting. She also was a hair dresser for Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home for over 10 years. Connie is survived by her husband, Jake; three sons Tom (Amy) Zettel of Sunbury, NC; Todd (Karen) Zettel and Terry (Carrie) Zettel of West Branch and daughter, Janey (Mike) Singer of Bumpass, VA; grandchildren, Brandon, Courtney, Trevor, Robie, Kyle, Jenna, Anthony, Max, Maddy and Michelle. In addition, Connie is survived by her brothers Robert (Emmaleen) Schliter of Burton; Terry Schliter of Rose City and her sister Sharon (Joe) Rieger of West Branch, brothers-in-law Rick (LaDonna) Zettel and Bill Zettel, sisters-in-law Joan Poling, Janet Tobin and Joyce (Jim) Nelander. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Kimberley Kaye, her parents, Robert Schliter and Ella Schliter-Rau and stepfather, Joseph Rau, her sister-in-law Eileen Zettel and brothers-in-law Stacey Poling and John Tobin. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of Helping Hands, West Branch or the American Cancer Society. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2007 from 3-9 p.m at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. There will be a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Fr. Robert Bissot will officiate. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Branch.