Deacon Mark Zenner

Deacon Mark Zenner, 67, of Superior, Mont., passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on November 10, 2017.

Mark was born October 25, 1950, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Roman and Evelyn (Hill) Zenner. He graduated from Rocori High School in 1969 and from the University of Minnesota Morris in 1973. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Zumwalde, on November 9, 1974. They were blessed with three children who were all born and raised in Long Prairie, Minn.

Mark was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a great storyteller. He loved nature and reveled in the awesome beauty of God’s creation.

Mark was ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon on June 13, 1998, and served as a deacon in two of his local parishes in central Minnesota. He and Jeanne moved to Great Falls, Mont., in 2010 where Mark was employed as Director of Ministry Formation in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings until his retirement in 2016. During that time, Mark served on both the Montana Catholic Conference board and the Montana Catholic Social Services board.

He was a shepherd to all around him; his ministry was compassionate and nondiscriminatory.

Mark is survived by his wife, Jeanne, of 43 years; daughter, Nicole; son, Shaun and wife, Annie along with their three children: Colter, Kaleb, and Emily Ann; son, Christopher. He is also survived by his mother, Evelyn; brothers, Guy (Joan), Dane, Blaze (Sally) and sister Daniele (Jeff) along with 8 nephews and 9 nieces. Mark is preceded in death by his father, Roman.

Mass of Christian Burial was on Thursday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church in Missoula, Mont. There was visitation at the church two hours prior to the Mass. Private inurnment will be in the Spring.

Special thank-you’s to the Montana Cancer Center and Partners in Home Care. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to either the Annual Catholic Appeal – Diocese of Helena – or Stand Up To Cancer.