Wayne Zitzlsperger

Wayne James Zitzlsperger was born on November 9, 1937, in Denison, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Rosauer) Zitzlsperger. He received his education at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Denison through the eighth grade and graduated from Denison High School with the Class of 1956.

Wayne joined the Iowa National Guard in Denison and completed six months of active duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. He later remained associated with the Iowa National Guard in Denison and Council Bluffs for a total of six years and was discharged in 1964. He attended the Commercial Extension School of Commerce in Omaha for one year and then worked for Union Pacific Railroad in and out of Omaha from 1957 until 1988. After taking early retirement, Wayne returned to Denison to help care for his aging mother.

Wayne enjoyed playing cards and collecting guns and especially valued time spent with his large extended family. He lived alone in Denison following his mother’s death in 1991 and the death of his brother, Clarence, in 1994.

Wayne passed away on Sunday December 14, 2025, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital at the age of 88 years, one month and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers: Joe (infant), Eugene, Wilfred, Clarence, Ronnie and Bob; sister, Bernice Dotzler; niece, Barbara Ohlinger; sisters-in-law: Judy Zitzlspenger and Mary Zitzlsperger.

Survivors include nephews: Alan (Nancy) Zitzlsperger and Dave and Mark Zitzlsperger, all of Omaha, Nebraska; niece, Mary Rohe of Manning and her children: Andy, Kevin, Marcus and Katy; niece, Betty (Joe) Keane of Defiance, IA and their children: AJ, John, Sarah and Laura; sister-in-law, Mary Zitzlsperger.

His funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., with visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, with Father Michael Cronin as the Celebrant. Interment will follow in the St. Rose Cemetery in Denison. Memorials may be directed to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison.