Mary Kay Zinn

Mary Kathryn Zinn, 99, of Spencer, died Feb. 20, 2025, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake.

Visitation will take place Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at First Congregational Church in Spencer. Private graveside services will be held in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

Mary Kay, the only daughter of William and Ethel (Berner) Burne, was born Jan. 29, 1926, at her parents’ farm home south of Spencer. She received her early education in the rural Sioux Township Schools and graduated from Spencer High School in 1943.

Following graduation from high school, Mary Kay began working at the Clay County Treasurer’s Office. She held this position until her marriage to Elmer Zinn, who was the chief deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. At that time, the county’s policy was that two people could not work for the county if they were married. They were married on May 15, 1946, at the First Congregational Church in Spencer. To this union were born three sons: Robert, William and John.

In order for her to be home with her sons and prior to their beginning kindergarten, Mary Kay baked and decorated birthday cakes, wedding and anniversary cakes. She also gave cake decorating lessons.

After her children were in school, Mary Kay began working as the secretary of the First Congregational Church. She continued working for over 31 years, retiring in 1990. She began working at the Clay County Fair as a ticket seller at the main gate, something she looked forward to each year. When her eyesight and hearing started to fail, she took tickets and was a hand stamper. Mary Kay enjoyed seeing all her friends at the main gate for over 30 years.

Mary Kay loved to cook and bake and was known for her “Zinn Baked Beans.” She read cookbooks like most people read novels. During her lifetime she answered to many names including Mary Kathryn, Mary Kay, Mary, Mickey, Mick and Mrs. Zinn. But the names nearest to her heart were Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma.

Mary Kay was not a traveler. She always commented after short or long trips that the best part was seeing her “own back door.” Mary Kay was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church, where she was very active in the Women’s Fellowship, having served faithfully as its president and worked diligently in the church circle. She was a life-time member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a member of Eta Master Chapter.

Mary Kay passed away at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake on Feb. 20, 2025, at the age of 99 years young.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, on Nov. 2, 2005; her parents; two brothers, Robert (Mabel) Burne and Roger (Elva) Burne; son, Robert, and his wife, Linda (Reason) Zinn; daughter-in-law, Sherry Zinn; and nephew, Tom Burne.

Mary Kay is survived by her sons: Bill Zinn of Spencer; John (Diane) Zinn of Spencer; six grandchildren: Jeremy (Amanda) Zinn, Joshua (Laura) Zinn all of Ankeny; Aaron (Kylee) Zinn, Trish (Jeremiah) Quist all of Spencer; Andrew (Brooke) Zinn of Storm Lake; Hanna Zinn of Hopkins, Minnesota; stepgrandson, Andrew Quist of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law, Linda (Jeff) Thiesen of Milford; seven great-grandchildren: Zachary Zinn, Preston Zinn, Kyra Zinn and Colby Zinn of Ankeny; A.J. Zinn, Tate Zinn, and Madison Quist of Spencer; Hazel Ann Zinn of Storm Lake; niece, Mariah Burne of San Francisco, California; and many friends.

The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.