Arlan Arthur Zills

Arlan
Arthur Zills, 74, was called home to heaven Friday, January 15th,
2016, following a courageous and inspirational four-month stay in home hospice,
surrounded by his wife of 44 years and all of his six children.

 

Arlan was
born to Arthur and Dorothy Zills on May 10, 1941, the first of four children.
He spent his childhood and teenage days working on the family farm and
graduated from Oakfield
High School
in 1959.

 

He pursued
his academic interests, obtaining a degree in accounting. Following the first
step of his career at Rippin’ Good Cookies, Arlan reached his dreams of
becoming his own boss when he became the owner of Open Pantry in Fond du Lac, Wis.

 

On April
11, 1971 he was joined in marriage to Barbara Krueger.

 

He grew his
business and opened two more stores in Fond
du Lac
, becoming well-known throughout the area with
his line of grocery stores. A businessman ahead of his time, he ultimately
reached his goal of $1,000,000 in yearly sales before moving on and finishing
his working career at Giddings & Lewis and Mercury Marine.

 

Born with a
tireless work ethic, he retired in 2005 to an even more non-stop life while
pursuing one of his loves – cars – going on to open his own auto sales
location. Always on the go, he enjoyed spending time in Florida with his wife and friends each
winter and did all he could to spend time with his 17 grandchildren and one
great-grandson.

 

He also
enjoyed spending time outdoors in his backyard, garage sales, colorful hats and
shirts, polka music, visiting the jewelry store and his dog Hachi. His children
will always remember spending time working with him at his stores and vacation
trips to Wisconsin Dells and Great America.

 

He is
survived by his wife, Barbara, and six children: Brenda (John) Rockefeller of
Waupun; Roxanne Zills of Waupun; Paul (Georgia) Zills of Green Lake,
Christopher (Bridget) Zills of West Bend; Michelle (Cory) Retzlaff of
Greenville; and Melinda (Greg) Krueger of Fond du Lac. He will always have a
special place in the hearts of his 17 grandchildren: Zac, Kyle (Cassie), Sean,
Brennan and Lexi Rockefeller; Mason and Caden Henning; Ashton and Kierra Zills;
Quinn and Lucas Zills; Madelyn, Eli, Owen and Alaina Retzlaff; and Victoriah
and Marcus Krueger; as well as great-grandson Zavier Rockefeller. He is also
survived by his brother, Lee (Carol) Zills, and two sisters, Shirley (Mick)
Wendt and Sharon (Wolf) Semrau.

 

 He
was preceded in death by his father, Arthur, in 1986 and mother, Dorothy, in
1998, and his infant granddaughter, Cassandra Rockefeller in 1987.

 

Visitation: Visitation will be held on Thursday,
January 21, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon at Faith Lutheran
Church
, 55 Prairie Road Fond
du Lac
.

 

Services: Funeral Services will be held at 12:00
noon. Pastor David Haugly will officiate. Cremation will follow with inurnment
at a later date.

 

Memorials
in his name may be directed to Faith
Lutheran School
.

 

The
family extends a special thank you to the staff at St. Luke’s Medical Center
in Milwaukee
for allowing him to come home for his final four special months spent with
family. Arlan was a very kindhearted man who touched the lives of family and
friends and no one was a stranger to him for long. We love you Pops, and will
never forget the strength you showed in making it to spend one final Christmas
with your entire family.
He was also thrilled to have his daughter
Brenda help him go and buy his wife roses one last time, just like he did every
Friday.

 

Zacherl
Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com