Reinhold L. Zwicker, age 90 of Turtle Lake, ND died Saturday, November 29, 2008 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake.

Funeral Services: 10:30 AM Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008;
Trinity Lutheran Church - Turtle Lake, ND;
Rev. Betty J. Stedman, Officiating

Interment: Turtle Lake Cemetery

Visitation: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Tuesday at Goetz Funeral Home – Turtle Lake;


Reinhold was born on November 21, 1918 in Malcolm Township, rural Coleharbor, ND, to Gottfried & Elizabeth (Bastian) Zwicker. His elementary education was received at a rural school in the Coleharbor area. He graduated from Turtle Lake High School in 1938. Reinie attended one year at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks and a second year at Minot State College. On August 10, 1940 he married Norrine Hanson in Burlington, Iowa. They moved to Peoria, Illinois where Reinhold worked as a welder for the R.G. LeTourneau Company. Following three years in Illinois, Reinhold moved the family to Turtle Lake and began Zwicker Motor Company. In 1947, he signed a contract with the J.I. Case Co. and one year later with the Pontiac Motor Division. When the oil exploration started in North Dakota, he did welding for drilling rigs. In addition to selling Case farm equipment and Pontiac automobiles, he sold Conoco petroleum products, did many maintenance welding jobs for farmers, excavating of various types, raised grain crops, and transplanted trees by machine. Together with his son Mark, he began manufacturing agricultural equipment parts and attachments. Later, his son Ron joined them and "Zwibco", a new corporation, was formed. In operating Zwibco, they built and sold pontoon boats and serviced other boats. They were instrumental in developing Anchorage Marine, located south of Garrison at the Fort Stevenson State Park.

As an active member of the Turtle Lake community, Reinhold was instrumental in bringing a hospital to the community and served as president of the hospital board. He was on the Boy Scout board and was a member of the Turtle Lake Commerical Club and the Lions Club. Reinie played a major role in the creation of the City Park Board and served as its first president. In 1984, Reinhold retired and for three years he and Norrine lived between Texas, where they moved the boat factory, and Turtle Lake. Reinie and Norrine have been living in Turtle Lake since 1991. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served as a church elder and sang in the choir. Fishing and gardening, especially growing watermelons, apples, and grapes were his hobby favorites.

Reinhold is survived by his wife of 68 years, Norrine of Turtle Lake; daughter, Claudette (Benjamin) Harring of Weston, WI; two sons, Ronald (Carmen) Zwicker of Rochester, MN, and Mark (Debra) Zwicker of Mountain Home, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Bryce Harring, Brent Harring, Tiffany (Scott) Zwicker Eggers, Trina Zwicker, Megan (John) McLean, Matthew Zwicker, Ryan Zwicker; one great-grandson, Lucas Eggers; sisters, Elsie (Pat) D'Aurora of Follansbee,WV, Ruth Brandt of Tucson, AZ, and Dorothy Bettenhausen, Cambria, CA; brothers, Elmer (Lorraine) and Edward (Sylvia) Zwicker, both of Bismarck, ND; and many nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Clara Eslinger.