Paul Robert Zenker, age 53, died Friday, Nov. 13.
Paul was a 1985 graduate of Sparta High School and because of skills center training he received went on to Grand Rapids Community College to pursue the tool and die trade. Paul was a mold maker for more than 30 years. He and his family took many vacations throughout the US, Canada, Central America, Europe and Russia. He loved camping and boating with his family and enjoyed many years at their summer home at Sandy Pines.
Growing up the oldest of four children, he took great pride in teasing and doing pranks on his siblings. His nieces and nephews would fondly call him Uncle Paulie Wog or just Wog to get a rise out of him. He enjoyed having them spend time in his home, taking them on many adventures like, teaching them how to drive a quad or shoot a gun.
His greatest accomplishment in his life however was being a father to David. He enjoyed teaching David how to shoot various types of guns or ride a quad and how to swim, how to fix a tire on a car and how to drive a car. He taught him how to grow up and to be respected as a man and to always speak your truth.
Paul is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barb Zenker; son, David Zenker; father, Wray Zenker; sister, Bobbi Lynne (Zenker) and her husband, Charles Cribley and Melissa Marie; brother, Kevin Lee and his wife Heather; sister-in-law, Susan Wisner; father- and mother-in-law Marvin and Christel Wisner; nieces and nephews Racheal (Corwin) and Brian Menzies, Tara Zenker, Seana Pursley, Amanda Pursley, Gracie Myckowiak, Megan MacDonald, Charlie Cribley, Zack and Alex Zenker, Kennedy (Craft) and Conrad DeRidder, Madison and Libby Cole; his great-nephews Aiden, Benson, Caleb, and Chayton; aunts and uncles Linda and George Clark, Judy (Terry, deceased) McGovern, Char and Rocky Kimball, Pat Bradford and Roger and Shirley Zenker.
Paul was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Jan. 3, 1967, to Roberta Lynne (Dutton) and Wray Zenker. He was preceded in death by his mother.
Visitation with Paul’s family will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 312 N. Main St, Wayland 49348.
In honor of Paul and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family for funeral expenses.
