Zoa Rehkamp

Zoa Vivian Rehkamp was born on May 29, 1912, in South Bend, Indiana. She was the daughter of Roscoe “Bill” and Emma (Kramer) Bowerman. Her father worked for the railroad and the family moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa and Sanborn, Minnesota where she graduated from Sanborn High School in 1929. With the encouragement of her principal, she enrolled and graduated from St. Teresa’s College in Winona in 1933 with a BA degree n Mathematics. She taught in Larchwood, Iowa and then from 1935-1940 in Brandon Minnesota. While visiting in Marshall, she met Joseph C. Rehkamp and they married in the chapel of the College of St. Teresa on August 19, 1940. Zoa loved people and activities with them. She was proud to have taught algebra to children in Brandon, Russell, Marshall Public and Holy Redeemer Schools. She wanted her occupation listed as school teacher and the bookkeeper for 509 Design. She was active in Holy Redeemer and Central Catholic High School parents groups and performed her “Ma Kettle” routine at “Springcapades” fundraisers. She was the Grand Regent of the Marshall Catholic Daughters of America, was nominated as Volunteer of the Year in Marshall, and was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of Marshall’s St Patrick’s Day Parade. She served on the SWAFA Board, Friends of the Library Board, Hospital Auxillary Gift Shop, a Hospice volunteer and CCW member. For eighteen years, she cared for her invalid mother who lived with the family. Zoa’s father was a minor league baseball player and she was an avid fan. She and son, Bob, traveled to see the Twins play in ballparks around the country. She loved bowling, tennis, traveling (especially to Europe with Baldwins and Haynes), bridge and trips on the bus with friends to area casinos. She drew energy and enthusiasm from contact with people and whether in church or at a party, you could hear her say, “Isn’t this fun!” She died after breaking a hip, a bad fall and an apparent stroke, on April 30, 2007 at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. She was supported in her last days and years by many wonderful and caring staff and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 54 years, and grandson Mark. She is survived by her children, Paul (Marcia) of Marshall, Jack (Jeannie) of Minneota, Mary Jo (Bob) Savage of Spring Lake Park, Jean (Tony) Navarro of Edina, Robert (Lucille) of Arden Hills; by sixteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren and cousin, Beverly Hanian of Rancho Mirage, Ca.