CALVIN ZERNICKE

Another member of the Greatest Generation has left us. Calvin L. Zernicke, 86, of Neenah passed away peacefully on January 26 after a brief illness. The son of Leonard Zernicke and Pearl Magee, he grew up in Chilton and Fond du Lac where he was an accomplished athlete in baseball, basketball, and tennis. At 19, Cal entered WWII, serving his country honorably as military police officer in the Army Air Corps. When he returned from service, his best friend introduced him to Melnee Rozelle of New London. They soon married and spent 53 years together until her death in 2001. Cal considered Melnee a gift from Heaven. Cal founded and operated Zernicke Studio in Neenah, and later Thompson-Zernicke Studio (now Thompson Photo Imagery) with his brother-in-law John Thompson. In the late 1970s he purchased Spectrum Studio in Menasha. In the 1980s Cal and a colleague opened Audio Images, a media production company. Honesty and quality service were the guiding principles of his business. An expert in portraiture, Cal received numerous professional honors including the degrees of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman from the Professional Photographers Association of America. He served a term as President of the Wisconsin Professional Photographers and two terms as Past President. In 1970 one of Cals works received the most points ever awarded up to that time in state portrait competition. He also judged numerous photographic competitions, taught, and lectured on photography to audiences at the Boys and Girls Brigade, Fox Valley Tech and throughout the U.S. and Britain. Cal was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and until retirement, Neenah Rotary. He was also an informal advisor to those seeking public office. In the 1987 he was appointed by the Governor to serve on a state regulatory and licensing board. After retirement he served on the police commission of the Town of Menasha for several years. Military service however was his greatest enjoyment. He attended Base Air Depot 2 reunions, was one of the founders of the Military Veterans Museum, and recently joined other WWII veterans on the Freedom Honor Flight to Washington D. C. Of greatest importance, Cal was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, in-law and a friend to many. A character by any description, Cal was funny and often disarmingly blunt. He was also pragmatic and generous, assisting those in need, often anonymously or with little fanfare. Spiritual and forgiving, he harbored no animosity toward anyone. Reflecting upon the community of family and friends who provided him welcome company, Cal frequently remarked that love made him a wealthy man. Cal was the brother of Douglas Zernicke and the late Betty Klaetsch. In addition to his brother, he is survived by sons, Dave and Paul, daughter-in-law Anne, and two grandchildren, Lincoln and Elizabeth, who loved him dearly. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, February 5, at 11:00 A.M., at the Congregational United Church of Christ (1511 Nicolet Blvd. Neenah), where Mr. Zernicke was a long-time member serving on many committees and boards throughout the years. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of service, Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith officiating.