Dena Prince Schmolke Zahn passed away on Friday, January 30th surrounded by loved ones just as she wanted.
Dena was a social butterfly who loved to be around people. She always said that she was never alone not even in birth, sharing it with her twin sister.
Born in Peoria, IL. on April 26, 1936 to Wilson Otterbein and Verna (Cruise) Prince, she was the youngest of 14 children. The family moved to Minneapolis when she was a young girl. She spoke very fondly of her years on Fremont Ave N.
Dena married Tom Schmolke in 1954 and the two started off in Minneapolis, then later moved to Blaine. They created a long legacy with nine children. Connie Kouzes (George), Cheryl Ayres (Kris), Tim (Julie), Ted (MaryBeth), Tony (Amanda), Tom, Terry, Carla Habeck (Rick) and Colleen Erickson (Carl). Dena is the wise Grandma to 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Her best advice “don’t do anything you couldn’t tell your grandmother”.
In 2003, her family grew larger when she married Desmond Zahn. The two had 5 fun filled years together before Des lost his battle to cancer in 2008.
Dena couldn’t go anywhere in Anoka county without seeing someone that she knew. After running a home day care for many years, she worked at Coon Rapids Clinic until she retired at the young age of 72.
She belonged to many clubs; We Care, PWP, Wacky Swans, Red Hats, and Bag Ladies. She loved to play cards, dice, Chinese Checkers, and sharing her infectious laugh with others. Ole and Lena jokes were her favorite.
She was a regular at many of Blaine’s best restaurants, Carol’s Kitchen, Ole Piper Inn, Culvers, and the Blaine or Coon Rapids Senior Center.
Dena grew up on music. She loved polka’s, old school country and gospel. On a Saturday night she could be found at home watching Hee-Haw, Laurence Welk, or Molly B Polka Party. She was also known to do a mean dance to Old Time Rock and Roll. She loved to play the piano. Many have heard her play her favorite song, The Green Green Grass of Home.
Dena was a strong, determined, hardworking woman. She took pride in having a loving, fun, clean home that was open to everyone. She was (in our eyes) the inventor of the first mobile phone, a land line with a 30 foot cord. She could walk around the entire house multi-tasking childcare, dusting, and catching up on the latest gossip.
She was known to many nieces and nephews as “Rich Aunt Dena”. It may be a surprise to some, but she was only rich in beauty, spirit, and humor. Her rules to live by: Don’t leave home without putting on lipstick and going to the bathroom, with lipstick being the most important!
She died too soon with a young spirit and will be missed by many.
If I was rich instead of beautiful – Dena
A “Celebration of Life” party will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 7th, 6 – 10 PM, at the Coon Rapids American Legion Post 334, 11640 Crooked Lake Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.
Memorials can be sent to the Make a Wish Foundation.