Lawrence John Zeik

Celebrate the life of Larry (Lawrence) John Zeik came into the world May 19, 1944, left us at the age of 80 on Dec. 9, 2024.
Preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Diane (Sipprell), father, Leonard, mother, Margaret (Zeik) Dressen, along with his brother Dennis, sisters Debbie Raedeke and Kathy Homan. Larry is survived by his four daughters, Charlene Wellens, Christine Carnicom (Steven), Colleen Kix (Loren) and Heidi Madson (Kent), nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, sisters Mary Tierney (Dan), Constance Lovelette (Don) and brother Jim (Justine). At his request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Diabetes Association or St. Jude’s Children's research.
So, here's a few things you might want to know...
Born in Hopkins, Minnesota, attended Hopkins High School - worked in grocery retail business for over 57 years... loved the outdoors. Married his high school sweetheart, Diane (Sipprell) Zeik (married for 60 years), lived in Minnetonka, MN - raised 4 daughters (9 grandchildren - 5 great grandchildren) a dedicated family man.
An amazing athlete - star football and softball player.... He loved to be active and loved to attend his children and grandchildren's sporting events - providing words of wisdom along the way.
An avid, skilled fisherman -a passion where he spent time all year-round fishing- Christmas & Green Lake, a couple of his favorite spots to fish.
A few things he'd be pleased if you remembered...
Worked in the grocery retail business, he was a jack of all trades in the grocery business.
Started his career working for Country Club Markets right out of high school and spent the majority of career there and then after they went out of business, moved over to Byerly's/Lunds Grocery chain with a final stop with Driskolls in Hopkins where he valued hard work.
He retired (a few times), was happiest when he was busy. He was most proud of the relationships he created over the years on the job and otherwise - he quite literally refused to retire -always on the go, got bored easily - especially in the winter, he would occasionally find other jobs outside of the grocery business to keep himself busy... but kept drifting back and ended his career at 'Hopkins - Driskolls' in March of 2021 (at 76 yrs old) - the most gratifying part of the job is connecting with people --- he loved to come home and share a story or two about the interactions he experienced. He forever likens himself as young and vibrant lad, working and keeping busy kept his mind and body in that space.
As much as he fished, never really had a freezer full of fish because as soon as he caught it, as he would give it away. He loved the days on his small boat on Christmas Lake or wherever- especially if he had someone with him (a friend or grandchild). He connected with nature the clear blue sky - solidarity of the lake, the comradery, and the bragging rights of the ultimate fish catch. He was always the merrier when he was spending time doing what he loved and more importantly doing what he loved w/the people he loved. Spending quality family time was always his #1 priority making memories none of us will ever forget.
what he would be thrilled if you might immortalize him...
A master landscaper. Always approaching each project with enthusiasm. The goal was about connecting with God and nature, creating something from his own 2 hands. He would spend hours outdoors working on his rock creations. He loved to have you come together to see his good work and proclaim with loud praise to whatever it was he had done in his yard.... He would invite you over so that he could tell you how he came up with the idea, what he had done to create it and what his plans to create the next masterpiece.
His biggest creation was his backyard waterfall.... With a little professional help or a lot if you ask others... he tweaked it over the years and made it his own and loved to sit outside - enjoy what he had built and listen to the sound of water flowing in his backyard.
His favorite places to spend time Lake Minnetonka - Christmas Lake (fishing) - Brule River in Grand Marais or Lutsen, MN area and generally outdoors doing pretty much anything.
He'd like you to take a moment to tell you about his 45-year sobriety and most importantly his spiritual journey. Then ask you if you have accepted the Lord Jesus into your heart and as your Lord and Savior. He was incessantly concerned about the people around him with whom he loved and if they loved the Lord as much as he did - he strongly desired to make sure he will see them in 'heaven' when that day would come. He carried his worn-out bible and quoted scripture at every holiday family gathering and lived his life by example. Found that prayer and the outdoors calmed him. Cared for his loving wife for 5 years during her illness and remained her steadfast caregiver until she left us too soon in July of 2022. He found it to be a privilege to care for her.
He might gently encourage you to take time to spend time with your loved ones, to not waste any time and ask the Lord to help guide you along your path and whatever you are giving to them, it will never be enough. He was a free spirit of sorts, spent every day outdoors, playing golf, tinker in the yard, come to your house and tinker in your yard 'if allowed to' or comment on what he could do in your yard.
He would share with you lovely things about his children and grandchildren- telling them daily that he is proud of them, and they were important to his life journey and who he had become in life.
He mostly refused to wear his hearing aid, loved to wear his hooded sweatshirt - oversized jeans - and jackets with a baseball cap.... leaning in with intense eye contact to have a conversation and ask how you are doing and what you are up to. He would reach out to touch your shoulder and tell you to have a great day. Then the next time he saw you, ask you similar questions.... with same interest and making sure you felt loved.
Here are a few of his favorite lines and sentiments:
'Is it colder in the winter than it is in the country?'
'And with that, there are no more you can do, leave it up to the Lord'
with one big sigh, 'let's say a prayer b/4 our meal'
Encourage you to take the word 'shut up' out of your vocabulary
Encourage you to ask the Lord to help guide you with whatever was going on in your life
Favorite Verse: Romans 9: 13-29 ("I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.)
Encourage you to 'get along', 'respect one another' and 'don't hold grudges'
Tell you he is very proud of you and share how much you helped him be a better person
Lastly and most importantly proclaimed daily his love for his wife and family - regarding his wife as his best friend and the best person he ever knew - he loved her dearly, so deeply, and in a way that no one could or would truly understand - truly a love to revere
Life will not the same w/o him. We will sure miss him and his positive influence; he left an indelible mark on all of us! We love you.