Allen B. Zeis

Allen Benedict "Big Al" Zeis, 64 of Devils Lake, ND passed away Saturday, December 22, 2007 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 2:00 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake, ND. Fr. Robert Pecotte will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in the Wales Cemetery in June. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Lake Region Honor Guard of Camp Grafton. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 11:00 am led by Fr. Paul Ruge. Serving as Casket Bearers for Allen will be his brothers, Richard Zeis, David Zeis and Mike Zeis and nephews, Richard Woodrow, Robert Woodrow, Mark Woodrow, Donald Lee, Matthew Zeis, Brett Zeis, Jesse Zeis, Zachary Zeis, David Zeis, Josh Zeis and Andrew Davidson. Reading the Scriptures will be Jackie Grosz and Greg Zeis Gift Bearers will be Jacob Grosz and Alexis Zeis Allen was born in Langdon ND, but lived in Wales ND until 1951 when his family moved to their family farm a mile and a half north of Wales. He graduated from Wales High School in 1961. After marrying Juanita "Bonnie" Howatt on 1965, he did a 2 year stint in the army at the US Army Training Center in Fort Leonard Wood MO. ,where he was a Training Sergeant for the 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade. After being honorably discharged from the army, he, his wife and now two children (Jackie and Greg) moved to Moorhead MN where he went to work for Fairmont Foods. In 1974, he accepted a position as branch manager at the Fairmont Foods branch in Devils Lake ND until he purchased his own dairy delivery business (Al's Dairy Delivery) in 1980, delivering dairy products to many families in Devils Lake which he did until 1985 when he sold the business. Over the next 15+ years, Allen worked as an advertising representative for Radio Works Radio Station (KDLR/KDVL Dakota Broadcasting) serving many businesses throughout the Lake Region area until he retired. Al was a big man with a big heart and truly loved his family and loved being a part of their lives. He always kept track of everyone and was so proud of their accomplishments. He especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends, fishing and hunting. Ice fishing was at the top of his list. If you wanted to know where the fish were biting, all you had to do was find "Big Al" on the ice. Allen is survived by two children, Jackie Grosz and her husband, Chris of Minot ND and Greg Zeis and his wife, Shari of Bismarck ND; his grandchildren, Jacob Grosz, Alexis and Mikayla Zeis; Jackie and Greg's mother Juanita "Bonnie" Zeis of Devils Lake ND; his brother and sisters, Karen Lee of Grand Forks ND, Richard (Linda) Zeis of Fargo ND, David (Debbie) Zeis of Langdon ND, Patty Woodrow of Hannah ND, Susan (Gary) Ruhl of Fairmont ND, Mike Zeis of Langdon ND, Donna (Doug) Davidson of Jamestown ND; and his many nieces and nephews which he loved keeping track of. He was preceded in death by his parents Benedict and Eileen (Hell) Zeis of Wales ND; and his brother-in-laws Lavern Lee and Daryl Woodrow.