Cecile M. Zenk, of Albert Lea, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, at home with her children at her side. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Joel Vano and Rev. Ronald Jansen will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Cecile M. (Holmen) Zenk was born on Sept. 13, 1935, to Oscar and Martha (Hanson) Holmen in Barber Township, Faribault County. She grew up the youngest of 10 children on a farm near Easton, and attended high school in Delavan. Cecile went to business college in the Twin Cities and worked for a period in Northfield. She was then transferred by the Thorpe Company to work in the Albert Lea office. Cecile met &8220;Chuck&8221; Zenk through a Friday after-work social club.

They were joined in marriage on June 16, 1962, at the United Lutheran Church in Frost. Cecile and Chuck made their home in Albert Lea. She worked at several local companies in bookkeeping including Erlandson&8217;s

Inc., Edwards Mfg., and retired from bookkeeping at Bridon Cordage in 1998. Cecile was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church and volunteered for the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to play bridge, work out at HealthReach, watch birds and work in her yard. Cecile was a very caring, supportive and loving wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend. Cecile treasured the time spent with her children and granddaughter, and her dog, Ming.

Survivors include her son, David Zenk and his wife Julia Potter and granddaughter Eliza of Arlington, Mass.; daughter Mary Zenk of Albert Lea; sister Edith Hanke of Kansas City; sisters-in-law, Sally Holmen of Glenville, June Holmen of New Richland, Sylvia Holmen of Sun City, Ariz., and Lois Hall ofBloomington; and brothers-in-law, Donald Dencker of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Russell (Linda) Zenk of Grand Marais.

Cecile was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harland (Chuck) Zenk; and eight brothers and sisters.

Cecile will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.