Carol Ann (Jesser) Zinke, 80, a long- time resident of Mercer, ND, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children at the Garrison Memorial Hospital on March 12, 2020.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, March 16, 2020 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Mercer with Pastor Randy Emgarten officiating.  Interment will be held in the Riverview Cemetery, Washburn, ND.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.

Carol was born on May 17, 1939 in Washburn, ND to Bennie and Mabel (Schell) Jesser. Carol grew up and attended school in Washburn. Carol married Harold Zinke in 1957 in Washburn, ND. Through that union, they raised 5 children on the family farm in rural Mercer, ND.

Carol spent the later part of her years in the town of Mercer. She spent summers working at the Brush Lake Pavilion and the other months at Chester's in Mercer. She loved walking and stopping along the way to visit with her many friends. Carol loved going to rummage sales and finding new treasures. She would always seem to find a new porcelain pig or two, to add to her ever growing pig collection. On Sundays you would find her cooking her delicious dinners and desserts for her children and grandchildren, while listening to her polka music playing in the kitchen.

Grandma's smile, her laugh, her love for her family and her feistiness will be so missed. It is hard to imagine the days ahead without her, but we take comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering.

Carol is survived by her children, daughter Mavis (Delton) Hochhalter, Regan, ND; daughter Brenda (Jim) Privratsky, Beulah, ND; son Randy (Karen) Zinke, Mercer, ND; son Lyle (Sherry) Zinke, Mercer, ND; son-in-law Jim Hunt, Brighton, CO. 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, Brandy (Rick) Geloff, Camrin, Graycin and Romin, Kelsey (Zach) Fred, Ivy, Chance Hochhalter (fiancé Rachel Beery), Erin (Jeremy) Mullins, Alexis, Haylee, Brandon Hausauer, Lilly, Jodi (Lane) Woodbury, Jeremiah, Jacie, Jessica (Cory) Hinkel, Cason, Caylee, Jaime Privratsky, Lane, Logan and Haley Zinke. Brother Virgil Jesser, California, sisters-in-law, Wanda Jesser, Garrison, ND and Pat Jesser, Bismarck, ND, brothers-in-law, Kenny Leidholm, Garrison, ND, Skinny Pochant, Pick City, ND, Reinhold (Loretta) Zinke, Bismarck, ND, Glen (Twila) Zinke, Minot, ND and many nieces and nephews.

Carol is preceded in death by her daughter Marsha Zinke Hunt, infant grandson Jesse Privratsky, parents Bennie and Mabel Jesser, sisters Silvia Chesworth, Jerry Pochant and twin sister Audrey Leidholm, brothers Rodney, O'Dell, and infant brother Lyle Jesser, brother in law Meinhart Zinke, sisters in law, Christine Zinke, Diane Zinke, nieces Toni Pochant, Tammy Leidholm and nephew Monte Jesser.