Zelda Tanke, 96 of Deep River, passed away Friday evening, March 27, 2026 at the English Valley Care Center in North English one day short of her 97th birthday. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River. Burial will be held in the Golden Rod Cemetery in Deep River. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present to greet friends and relatives from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Calvary Lutheran Church. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Zelda Anna Tanke, born on March 28, 1929, to Arthur and Elsie (Kleinmeyer) Huedepohl, grew up on a farm southwest of Homestead, Iowa, with her brothers, Wilbert and Ralph and her sister, Fern. Her faith was an important part of her life from an early age, as she was baptized, confirmed, and educated through the eighth grade at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Homestead.

On January 29, 1950, at St. John's Lutheran Church –the same church where she was baptized and confirmed – she married William Tanke of Deep River. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work, sharing nearly 60 years of marriage before his passing in 2009.

Zelda spent most of her married life in rural Deep River, where she worked alongside her husband on the farm, especially helping with milking and the fall harvest. She found great joy in farm life—gardening, canning, and baking for her family. As her children grew, she began working outside the home, spending several years as a prep cook at the Victorian Inn. There, her gift for baking became widely known. Her cinnamon rolls were recognized by Des Moines Register columnist, Chuck Offenburger as among the best in the state. He famously called them "lunkers," noting their impressive half-pound size and five-inch height, and joked that some referred to them as "Oh, God" rolls because of their enormity.

After the Victorian Inn closed, Zelda dedicated 17 years as a dietary aide at the Montezuma care center. She was a faithful member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Deep River since 1950 and was active in the LWML, serving in several officer positions.

In retirement, she found happiness in life's simple pleasures: tending her flowers, visiting with friends, cheering for the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes, and working on word searches, puzzles, playing cards and dominoes. Her porch—beautifully decorated for every season – was a place of welcome, where family and friends were always greeted with warmth, conversation, and often something delicious from her kitchen. In fact, a sign hanging in her kitchen read, "My Grandma Cooks Good Stuff," a fitting tribute to the many favorites she made, including frosted sugar cookies, her well-known cinnamon rolls, red punch at holidays, meatloaf, angel food cake, Texas sheet cake and homemade noodles, among many others. She took great pride in caring for those she loved most –her family, especially her eleven grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Zelda is survived and lovingly remembered by her five children, Kathy (Keith) Fisch of Deep River, Cheryl (Kenneth) Icenbice of Virginia Beach, VA, Dwayne (Tammy) Tanke of Deep River, Linda (Kevin) Kudart of Montezuma and Mary (Jeff) Heishman of Deep River; her 11 grandchildren, Kasey (Jenny) Fisch, Kristin (Dan) Grove, Erin (Justin Hankins) Icenbice, Matthew (Cori) Icenbice, Chad (Molly) Tanke, Chandra (Bryan) Stuntebeck, Chase (Bethany) Tanke, Kolten (fiancé, Jess) Kudart, Kyler (Rebecca) Kudart, Taryn (Josh) Anderson and Tiffany Heishman; her 18 great grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Adrian Wetjen of Williamsburg along with many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William; her brothers, Wilbert (Joyce) Huedepohl and Ralph (Alice) Huedepohl; and her sister, Fern Wetjen.