Dorothy Zilka

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 20, 2011 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.VISITATION : 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.INTERMENT : St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Two Inlets, MN.SURVIVORS : Her eight sons: William (Janet) of Sleepy Eye, MN, Leonard Renee) of Warren, MN, Thomas (Lynnette) of Redwood Falls, MN, Francis (Julie) of Columbia Heights, MN, Edward (Sharon) of Cedar Rapids, IA, Joseph (Florence) of Wheeling, IL, Steven of Park Rapids, MN and Peter (Janet) of Bolingbrook, IL; her five daughters: Dorothy (Marcellus) Klier of Little Falls, MN, Theresa (Robbie) Keller of Park Rapids, MN, Mary (Robert) DeCrans of Nevis, MN, Christine Dickson of Saint Cloud, MN and Margret Rairdon of Park Rapids, MN; 35 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; two sisters: Florence Zilka of Crosby, MN and Wilma (James "Barth") Jenkins of Houghton, MI. DOROTHY A. ZILKAJune 30, 1920 ~ June 15, 2011 Dorothy Zilka, 90, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at Hyatt House in Park Rapids. Dorothy was born June 30, 1920 in Pike Creek Township, Morrison County, Minnesota, to the late William and Ida (Olson) Liebl. Growing up, she attended Brickyard School, St. Cloud Central, and Little Falls High School. She graduated in 1939 from Little Falls High School. On April 30, 1940, she married the love of her life, Simon "Sammie" Zilka. Dorothy and Sammie lived near Arago, Minnesota after they got married. From Spring 1943 to Spring 1946, the couple and their children lived in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1947, Dorothy, Sammie, and the children then moved to Hubbard County to a farm where they lived and raised their children. On April 2, 1980, 28 days short of their 40 wedding anniversary, Dorothy lost the love of her life, Sammie. Dorothy continued to live on the farm until 1996 when she moved into Court Apartments in Park Rapids. She lived there until the Summer of 2010 when she moved into Hyatt House. During the years of child-rearing, homemaking, and farm work, Dorothy was active in different groups at Saint Mary"s Catholic Church in Two Inlets, Minnesota and Saint Peter the Apostle in Park Rapids. When she wasn"t busy with church, she enjoyed gardening her vegetables, berries, and flowers. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and reading. She was also quite involved in the development and support of Heartland Homes, a model institution in the State of Minnesota for the developmentally disabled, where her surviving son, Steven, is currently a resident. Her Catholic faith and family were the most important things in her life, even up to her last day. She will be greatly missed by her eight sons: William (Janet) of Sleepy Eye, MN, Leonard Renee) of Warren, MN, Thomas (Lynnette) of Redwood Falls, MN, Francis (Julie) of Columbia Heights, MN, Edward (Sharon) of Cedar Rapids, IA, Joseph (Florence) of Wheeling, IL, Steven of Park Rapids, MN and Peter (Janet) of Bolingbrook, IL; her five daughters: Dorothy (Marcellus) Klier of Little Falls, MN, Theresa (Robbie) Keller of Park Rapids, MN, Mary (Robert) DeCrans of Nevis, MN, Christine Dickson of Saint Cloud, MN and Margret Rairdon of Park Rapids, MN; 35 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; two sisters: Florence Zilka of Crosby, MN and Wilma (James "Barth") Jenkins of Houghton, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sammie; sister, Lucille; brother, William; two daughters-in-law: Kathy and Shirley and son-in-law, Bill. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 Monday, June 20 at Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating. Organist will be Joy Horejsi. Music will be led by the Alleluia Choir. Active casketbearers will be Will Zilka, Jason Zilka, John Zilka, Mike DeCrans, Tony Zilka, and Luke Rairdon. Interment will be made next to her husband in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Two Inlets, MN. **In lieu of flowers, masses should be given to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN or St. Marys Catholic Church in Two Inlets, Mn.**