Donald Zirtzman

DONALD ZIRTZMAN

Monticello

Donald Zirtzman, 79, died Saturday evening, April 26, 2014, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the United Church of Monticello, with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. The Rev. Edwin Moreano will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Surviving are two children, Denise (Andrew) Arduser and Keith Zirtzman, all of Monticello; three grandchildren, Nikki (Darin) Siebels and Drew and Kegan Arduser; and three great-grandchildren, Dane, Kendall and Deakon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret; a sister, Arlene; and two brothers, Floyd and Francis.

Donald Dean Zirtzman was born Nov. 24, 1934, at Oneida, Iowa. He was the son of Rhinehart and Della Davis Zirtzman. Don graduated from the Buck Creek High School in 1952.

Donald Zirtzman and Margaret I. Covington were married July 31, 1954, at St. Luke's Methodist Church, Monticello, Iowa. Donald worked as a cheese maker and the couple lived in Steam Boat Rock, Osage and Menominee, Ill. In December 1964, they moved back to Monticello and started Zirtzman's Sweet Shop. They operated Zirtzman's Lunch Wagon, as well, a mobile sandwich shop that supplied sandwiches to the local factory workers and to area auctions. They operated the lunch wagon at the Central City Bluegrass Festival for years as well. Don also had vending machines in the area factories that he resupplied daily. The couple retired from the Sweet Shop in 1993 but continued to operate their vending and lunch wagon business for several years after. For 29 years, the couple operated a beef burger, bratwurst and hot dog stand at the Great Jones County Fair, but never closed his other business.

Don played basketball and baseball while in high school and when the couple moved to Monticello, he played baseball for the Monticello Cubs. He was an avid bowler, making the 700 Club status. He enjoyed his big garden and going hunting and fishing. His pride and joy was his all original 1961 beige Chrysler. He loved taking it for drives and to parades.