Francis Zeches

FRANCIS L. "RED" ZECHES

Francis L. “Red” Zeches, age 91, of Winona, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at his home.

Red was born on February 12, 1925, to the late Helen (Joswick) and Frank Zeches in Elba, MN.  He graduated from Cotter High School in 1942 and attended St. Mary’s College.   He entered the Merchant Marine Academy in March 1943, and served as an engineer on multiple ships.   During the course of his service, Red earned the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Bars, the World War II Victory Medal and Bar, and the Honorable Service Button.  He graduated from the Fort Trumbell Officer Candidate School on August 15, 1945, with a degree in Marine Engineering and an Ensigns Commission in the Naval Reserve.  He was honorably discharged on May 22, 1946.

Red returned to Winona and married Donna Mae Ahrens on May 20, 1947, at the St. Thomas Pro Cathedral in Winona.   Together they started the wholesale food distributorship, Zeches Institutional Supply, in 1949.  He was later joined in the business by his son Craig, and they worked together for 35 years.   Red was an initial founder of the National Institutional Food Distributor Association (NIFDA) in Atlanta, GA, and served as a director for many years.   As an entrepreneur in the food service industry, he was a part owner of several businesses including:  Lyon Foods, which processed herring and grew fresh mushrooms; Rustco Baking Products of Denver, CO; Park Corporation, a manufacturing arm of Jewel store products; and Trademark Coffee Company, San Francisco, CA.   Red retired in February 2004.

Red was an avid golfer, and served on the board and as President of the Winona Country Club.  He was a member of the leadership team that raised funds to build the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Church.  Red attended Mass there daily, and in his retirement years, became active in the outreach programming of the church.  He assisted in home meal delivery, distribution of communion to shut-ins, Mass server for funerals, and participated in weekly devotion at the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

Red is survived by his son, Craig (Dianne) Zeches, Winona, and daughter, Karen (Carl) Hawkinson, Galesburg, IL; 9 grandchildren: Tim (Nicole) Zeches, Brian (Katelyn) Zeches, Betsy (Brad) Walker, Michael (Megan) Zeches, Rebecca (Leonard) Jordan, Joel (Melissa) Zeches, Kathleen (Tom-Erik) Bowen, Anne (Kenneth) McCullah, John (Emily) Hawkinson and 16  great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Donna in 1983; a brother, Eugene Zeches; sister, Margaret Gulyas; and great-granddaughter, Elise Bowen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 4 PM on Sunday, June 19, 2016, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona.  The Reverend Monsignor Richard M. Colletti will officiate.  Following the Mass, the American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post 9 of Winona will provide military honors outside of the Cathedral.

Red will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home on Saturday, June 18, 2016, from 2 PM until 5 PM, with the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary at 4:45 PM.  Visitation will also be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, June 19, 2016, from 3 PM until the time of the Mass.

Memorials may be made to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish, Cotter High School or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Red’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.