Lenn W. Zuhlke

Lenn Willis Zuhlke, 58, of Bancroft, NE died on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at his home in Bancroft. A funeral service for close family and friends will be held on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft; Pastor Nathan Henschen will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft. Burial will be in the Bancroft Cemetery in Bancroft. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft. If you plan to attend any of the services, please wear a face mask. Lenn Willis Zuhlke was born on February 25, 1962, to Willis and Caroline (Abendroth) Zuhlke in West Point, NE. He was baptized on April 1, 1962 and confirmed on April 11, 1976 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Lenn attended District 32 through the 6th grade and graduated from Bancroft High School in 1980. Between his Junior and Senior year of high school, Lenn joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. Lenn attended Northeast Community College studying to become a welder. On September 28, 1991, he married Shanan Nelson. To this union two sons were born, Xyander and Philip. The couple later divorced. Lenn enjoyed fixing things and creating sculptures from metal. He worked at Automatic Manufacturing in Pender for several years until he started at Smeal Fire Apparatus in Snyder and Reif Hauling in Bancroft. He currently was working at R&R Painting in Pender. Lenn was very proud of his two sons and the men they have become. Lenn is survived by his mother, Caroline Zuhlke of Bancroft, NE; sons, Xyander Zuhlke and fiancé Joesey Jackson of Des Moines, IA, Philip Zuhlke of Maxwell, IA; sister, Thresa (Jeff) Carle of Lincoln, NE; niece, Lauren Zuhlke; nephew, Jacob Zuhlke; sister-in-law, Nicole (John) Sachs of Bancroft, NE. Lenn is preceded in death by his father, Willis Zuhlke; brother, Curt Zuhlke; grandparents, John and Anna (Vogt) Zuhlke, Fred and Delilah (Stoltzman) Abendroth.