Frank A. Zuerner, age 61, much loved husband, father,
grandfather ("Pa Z"), son and brother, passed away peacefully at home
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, of pancreatic cancer. Frank was born on March 9,
1943, in Pasadena, Calif., to Frank H. and Mildred (Herrmann) Zuerner.
Frank graduated from Greendale High School, Greendale, in 1961. He
graduated from the UW-Madison in 1965 with a bachelor of science degree.
He married Linda Lass in August 1965 in West Allis. They moved to
Missoula, Mont., where he continued his education at the University of
Montana-Missoula and where he received his teaching certificate. In
1967, he began his science teaching career at James Madison Memorial
High School. He was a very well liked and respected teacher during his
34-year career at Memorial. He was the first recipient of the Martin
Luther King award, given by the students. Frank retired from teaching in
May 2001. While at Memorial he also coached football, wrestling,
refereed wrestling and he assisted with the WIAA state wrestling
tournament for several years. During his teaching career he also took
students on science field trips during their spring breaks and summers
to Montana, New Mexico, Louisiana, Utah and Georgia. Frank was an active
member in the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers (WSST) and the
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) throughout his teaching
career and received many outstanding awards from these organizations: He
was a nominee and award winner in 1983 and 1984 for the Presidential
Award in Excellence in Science Teaching from WSST and the state
Department of Public Education. He served on the board of directors and
the executive committee as well as being the 1989-90 president of WSST.
WSST awarded him the Ron Gibbs Award of Excellence in Science Education
in 1992. He was also an active member of the Wisconsin Academy of
Sciences, Arts and Letters. In 1995 Frank received the Tandy Technology
Scholars Tandy Prize for Outstanding Teacher of 1994-95. In 1995 he
received the National Distinguished Teacher's Award for high schools,
for his extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching. He
also received recognition from the University of Wisconsin School of
Education as a distinguished Teacher of Teachers the same year. He also
received numerous other awards throughout his career. Proud to be a life
time member of the NSTA, Frank served on several program committees as
well as volunteering his time and efforts at many national and regional
conventions through the 1990s up until the national convention in
Atlanta, Ga., in spring 2004. Frank actively pursued his love for nature
and the outdoors through photography, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping,
and traveling. Recently he added visiting Civil War battlefields to his
hobbies. He particularly enjoyed time spent with his family and
grandsons. Frank is survived by his wife, Linda Zuerner; his son, Frank
C. Zuerner; his daughter, Lisa A. (Todd) Kaull; grandsons, Nathan and
Timothy Kaull; his father, Frank H. Zuerner; brother, Gary J.
(Charlotte) Zuerner; brother-in-law, Charles (Diane) Lass;
sister-in-law, Sandra Shultz; three nephews; three nieces; two
grand-nephews; a grand-niece; and other relatives. Frank was preceded in
death by his mother, Mildred H. Zuerner. A celebration services of
Frank's life will be held on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, at ST. MARIA GORETTI
CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison. Visitation will begin at 1:30
p.m. and the celebration of life service will follow at 3 p.m. In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be made in Frank A. Zuerner's name to the UW
Comprehensive Cancer Center, or the Frank A. Zuerner scholarship fund,
care of James Madison Memorial High School, 201 Gammon Road, Madison, WI
53717. Frank's family wishes to extend a gracious thank you to the
caring staff of HospiceCare and the nurses and doctors at the UW
Hospital Cancer Center. We also wish to express our gratitude to our
wonderful neighbors and friends for their loving support. Cress Funeral
& Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434
www.cressfuneralservice.com
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