Marian Zander

Marian Helen Menzel Zander was born September 30th, 1933, in Deposit, NY, to parents Joseph Menzel and Helen Dibble Menzel. Marian passed away at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, MN, on November 25th, 2025. She was content in her last several weeks of life, conversing with her children, nieces, and nephews.

Marian grew up in Deposit, NY, and spent summers at the Atlantic Ocean with her siblings and relatives. In high school, she was a lettered track athlete and excelled at violin, which she continued to play into adulthood. She graduated from Albany University with a BA in education and a master's in education. She met her husband, Carl Zander, in France while teaching English on an air force base near Châteauroux in 1959. They married on August 13th, 1960, and returned to Rochester, MN, as teachers. She taught elementary school. They welcomed four children in three years.

Marian enjoyed month-long summer camping trips with her family. Each summer, a different region of the United States was explored. Her motto the more remote the better was always honored. She enjoyed bundling up her kids for winter walks around Silver Lake. She supported many of her kids' school projects and assignments and fostered a love of higher education in them. She worked at Seneca's frozen food division while her children were in middle and high school. She retired in 1998. Marian was Nana to eight grandsons and two granddaughters.

All of Nana's grandchildren enjoyed coming down to Rochester and selecting gifts from Toys ' R ' Us for special occasions and holidays. She was generous with her time and attention to each one of them. When visiting, she always had crafts, crayons, paper, and puzzles, as well as games for their enjoyment. She made each of them feel special.

Marian lived to spread her arms wide and embrace all her children and grandchildren. With earnest interest and attentive listening to the ups and downs, goals and dreams, progress and setbacks, always supporting them all. She most enjoyed daily quiet time in her personal relationship with the Lord.

Marian is survived by her husband, Carl senior; sons Carl and Clark (Beth); daughter Anne (Roger Eggebrecht); and daughter-in-law Lara. She is survived by grandsons Christian, Elliot (Francis), and Morgan (Katie) Zander, Hans and Noah Zander, Jackson and Piper Zander, Samuel (Yani), Isaiah, and Rachael Eggebrecht.

She is preceded in death by her son, Keith Zander, her parents, Joseph and Helen Menzel, and her sisters, Evelyn Tarr and Doris Rocha.

A celebration of life will be planned in the spring of 2026.