Judith Ann (Neal) Zinser, age 80 of Clare, passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at the Green Acres Assisted Living Facility of Mt. Pleasant. On September 23, 1942, Judy was born the daughter of Ralph and Julia (Heath) Neal in Mt. Pleasant, where she continued to live into her young adulthood. In her younger years, Judy was an accomplished accordionist, and while on one of her concert trips to Chicago with other musicians from neighboring communities, she met a young man from Clare named Donald Zinser. Although she wasn’t immediately impressed by Don, he was persistent, and the pair was united in marriage in Mt. Pleasant on July 7, 1962—enjoying 42 years of marriage until Don’s passing in 2004. During her early working years Judy had briefly worked for CMU as well as Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, but most would remember Judy’s impressive 21-years of joyfully serving as a court clerk for Clare County from 1989 until her retirement in 2010. Those that knew Judy well, knew she was a homebody, but she did enjoy taking long walks, sewing, reading, and especially scanning and cataloging family photos.
Judy is survived by her three children William Zinser of Haverhill, MA., Michelle (Russ) Delaney of Winthrop Harbor, IL., and Timothy (Shanan) Zinser of Bloomington, IN. Other survivors include her grandchildren Kaitlyn (Josh) Burke of Mashpee, MA., Erin (Jamie) Baik of Irving Park, IL., and Sean Delaney of Winthrop Harbor, IL., her three great-grandchildren Elim and Noah Baik and Quinn Burke, her brother Jack (Kathy) Neal of Mt. Pleasant, and in-laws Bill (Pat) Zinser of Clare. Judy was preceded in death by her husband Don Zinser and parents Ralph and Julia Neal.
A graveside service will take place in Judy’s honor at the Cherry Grove Cemetery of Clare on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. Family and friends are encouraged to visit with the Zinser family at the cemetery on the 20th from 10:30 A.M. to the time of service at 11:00 A.M. A luncheon will follow at the Clare United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions in honor of Judy may be directed towards the Alzheimer’s Association. For those unable to attend services, online condolences may be shared at www.stephenson-wyman.com