Gary “Zeke” Ziesmer June 14, 1943 - September 18, 2019

1943 – 2019

Gary “Zeke” Ziesmer was born June 14, 1943 in Lake City, MN to parents Elayne (Olson) and George Ziesmer. He grew up in North Minneapolis and attended Patrick Henry High School until 1961 when he joined the Army. He was stationed mainly in Germany and Paris until his honorable discharge in 1965. He then went to work at the Minneapolis Star Tribune as a pressman. 

In the late 70’s Zeke moved to Sacramento, CA “because you don’t have to shovel rain”. There he found work as a pressman again at the Sacramento Union. In the late 80’s he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and went to work for the San Francisco Chronicle/ Examiner. It was while living in the Bay Area that he met Sandy, his “everything”. They lived in and around the Bay Area before finally settling in the beautiful foothills of Yosemite National Park, just outside of Mariposa, CA in 2000. Zeke continued to work as a pressman at the Chronicle/Examiner until his retirement in 2004. 

Zeke was happiest when he was making others laugh, and he was well known for his practical jokes and (sometimes horrible!) jokes and one-liners. But his true joy came in spending time with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who all adored him as much as he adored them. 

If you met Zeke once, you never forgot him, and to know him was to love him! He brought so much laughter and joy to so many and he will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, and all who knew him. 

Zeke passed away peacefully on September 18, 2019 in Turlock, CA. He was 76 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents Elayne Ziesmer and George Ziesmer; sisters Sharolyn Nelson and LuAnn Feehan and brothers Michael Ziesmer and Doug Ziesmer. 

He is survived by his wife Sandra Daley; sisters Sue (Gordy) Heruth and Sheila Ziesmer; sister-in-law Judy Ziesmer; brothers-in-law Kerry Feehan, Tommy (Leslie) Daley and Jimmy Daley; sons Michael (Sheila) Ziesmer, Josh (Nancy) Ziesmer; daughters Donna Rangel and Amy Reinholdson; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and dear friends. 

A Celebration of Zeke’s Life will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 12:00 pm at McCay Hall, 2820 Highway 140, Cathy’s Valley, CA 95306. 

We will also celebrate Zeke’s life with a party (the way he would have wanted it!) on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 1:00 pm at the Zimmerman Civic Center, 25850 Main Street, Zimmerman, MN 55398.