Mark Frederick Zander

Mark Frederick Zander, aged 74, of Jordan, passed away on December 16, 2024.

A Visitation will be held from 5PM-7PM on Thursday, December 19th, 2024, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 104 1st St. W, Jordan. A Christian Funeral will take place at 10:30AM with a Visitation starting at 9:30AM- 10:15AM on Friday, December 20, 2024, all at St. Paul's Lutheran Church 100 6th St W, Jordan. Pastor Glowicki presiding. Mark will be laid to rest at Stanton City Cemetery in Nebraska, details pending.

Memorials are preferred and will be distributed by the family to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Scholarship Fund and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Home and World Missions. 

Mark Frederick Zander was born on November 19,1950, in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Oscar and Irma (Zimmermann) Zander. He became a member of God's family through baptism on December 20, 1950, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Stanton, NE, and made public confession of that faith at his confirmation on May 16, 1965, at Trinity Lutheran in Hoskins, NE. He attended elementary school at St. John's in Stanton, NE, and Trinity in Hoskins, NE. He attended high school at Martin Luther Academy, New Ulm, MN, graduating in May 1969. He continued his education at Northwestern College, Watertown, WI, (1975) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (1979) in preparation for the public ministry.

Upon graduation from the Seminary, Mark's assignment and first call was to Garden of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE, where he served from 1979 to 1985. During his time in the ministry, he also served the dual parish of St. Paul's Lutheran, Naper, NE, and Zion Lutheran, Bonesteel, South Dakota (1985-1997); and St. Peter's Lutheran, Balaton, MN, (1997-2011). Additionally, due to the realignment of parishes, he also served Peace Lutheran, Shenandoah, IA; Redeemer Lutheran, Council Bluffs, IA; Christ our Savior Lutheran, Fremont, NE; and Beautiful Savior, O'Neill, NE. While serving those congregations, Mark also served as Chairman of the Nebraska District Board for Special Ministries. Throughout his ministry, Mark always had a special love for Christian education of children and the maintaining and building up of Lutheran elementary and secondary schools.

While Mark was serving in Omaha, he became acquainted with Lois Marie Hahn, a teacher at another congregation in Omaha, and on July 7, 1984, they were united in marriage at Calvary Lutheran Church, Dallas, TX. Their marriage was blessed with five children.

Throughout his life, Mark was an ardent, faithful Nebraska Cornhusker and Chicago Cubs fan. Right after learning about their Savior, he instilled in his children a love for the Cornhuskers and the Cubs. He also loved horses and fishing, although he never ate one fish he caught. Mark was known for his humorous retelling of stories and life experiences. Along with sharing the message of salvation, Mark also greatly enjoyed visiting and spending time with members of the congregations he served.

Mark is survived by his wife Lois of 40 years; his children: Timothy, Sarah, Jonathan, Katie, and Rebekah; grandchildren: Paul, Grace, and David Zander; brother: James (Laurie) Zander; sister-in-law: Nancy Zander; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Timothy Zander.