Elmer F. Zielke, born March 24, 1927 in Fowler Kansas, died November 7, 2007 at Fowler Community Clinic of natural causes. He was 80 years old. Elmer Zielke was the oldest son of George and Marie (Warkentine) Zielke. He married the apple of his eye, Bertha Classen, on March 28, 1948 at the Meade EMB Church.

Mr. Zielke was a lifetime Meade County area resident, having resided in Minneola, Fowler, and Meade. He was a farmer/rancher that loved his work and always wanted to be buried with his boots on. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in rural Meade. He enjoyed farming, deer hunting, dominos, and most of all, playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchilddren.

Mr. Zielke is survived by a son Robert Zielke and his wife Kirstin of Camano Island, Washington and a daughter Donna Corwin of Sterling, Kansas, as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren – grandchildren: Zane Zielke of Camano Island, Washington; Amy Smith & husband Spencer of Hutchinson, Ashley Corwin of Sterling, Andrea Ketch and husband Derrick of Tacoma, Washington, and Ryan Corwin of Sterling; and, great-grandchildren: Kalyssa & Kaelyn Patterson of Sterling and Joshua Ketch of Tacoma, Washington. He is further survived by four sisters: Wilma Unruh, Ruth Smith, Alice Balzer, and Carol Regier.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Bertha, and a brother, Arlen.

Funeral services will be Monday, November 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Meade EMB Church, with burial in the church cemetery following the service. Friends may call from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade, Kansas.

Memorials are requested be made to the EMB Missionary Fund in care of the mortuary.