M.S. Zschomler

M.S. (Stan) Zschomler of Shoreview, MN died February 24, 2012. A memorial service will be held at Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Highway 65 Northeast, Fridley, MN, on March 2, 2012, 6:30 PM. Family will receive friends 5-6:30 PM. Burial will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery at a later date.

Stan was born February 18, 1934 in Summit, South Dakota, the only child of Palma (Eide) and Leo Zschomler. He grew up on the family farm and attended 8 years of country school. He graduated from Summit High School in 1951. During this time he developed his lifelong love for hunting, trapping, and fishing. He competed in baseball as a pitcher in a tough amateur league in South Dakota, in the Army, and in college.

Stan worked as a lineman for the railroad until 1953 when he joined the Army. He was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico where the Nike Guided Missile Program was being tested. In 1960 Stan graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Wildlife Management. During his 33 year career with the US Fish & Wildlife Service he worked as a trapper, refuge manager, a biologist working on the sea lamprey program on the Great Lakes, and a biologist and supervisor in Ecological Services in Minnesota, California, and North and South Dakota. The latter part of his career was focused on endangered species work on the least terns, clapper rails, plovers, and his proudest accomplishment – the restoration of black-footed ferrets in South Dakota. He also worked on the Starkweather Watershed, Garrison Diversion, and wetland protection projects featuring the philosophy "Save the Dirt." He was proud to be able to develop perpetual wetland and grassland easement on the family farm.

Stan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Johanna (Maack), two children, Daniel of Columbia Heights, MN, and Kristen of Falcon Heights, MN and her two children Mason and Thea Pratt.