- Born on: September 3, 1936
- Departed on: August 29, 2026
- Resided in: Hawkeye, IA
Lloyd Louis Zell
'Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd what are we going to do with you young man?' Those words were the first words I would speak to Lloyd every Summer, several times a Summer for the six years that he would make the trip from Iowa to Chetek while I was around. You see Lloyd was an early bird, not just early, almost too early, but I never questioned him...because I understood the man standing before me those very early, sometimes sleepless mornings in Chetek. This was a hard working, hard playing man who even as he aged, wasn't going to let anything or anyone ( me! ) stop him from what he set out to do. Lloyd was a fisherman, and came to visit Chetek with that sole purpose in mind. The boys and I would help to unload and get him situated into his cabin ... but Lloyd wouldn't settle in for long! No sooner did we have him all set up inside ( with a cold beer in his hands at around 7AM! ) than he would say, 'Are you gonna help me get the boat in?' The answer no matter the weather, no matter the chores yet to be done, no matter how much Jack Daniels was drank at the campfire the night before he arrived, was always a wholehearted YES! My memories of Lloyd, of his time with us, of his family are memories that are still very much cherished to this day. I haven't been back to Chetek in almost six years, but Lloyd and his infectious 'demands' have always been a close, personal gift that I hope will last through the rest of my life.
I am so sorry to hear of Lloyd's passing. I remember him as being busy in the middle of something when Dad (Tex) would stop by when we were with him. Sending condolences to you all. Colleen
