Randy James Zitzmann

Randy J. Zitzmann, age 55, of Spicer, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Saturday, June 27, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 6, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com

Born and raised in Gibbon, Minnesota, to James and Doris Zitzmann, Randy grew up with a deep appreciation for the outdoors. He was a man who truly loved nature, whether he was out on the lake fishing, deep in the woods hunting, or jokingly scouting the wilderness for Bigfoot. He particularly loved feeding and watching the deer in his backyard. Randy also dedicated many years to a long and fulfilling career at Jennie-O, where he truly enjoyed his work and the connections he made over the years.

Family was the center of Randy’s world. He shared a beautiful life with his wife, Amy (Becker) Zitzmann, and was an incredibly proud father to Brady (Megan) Zitzmann and Ayrika (Derek) Boonstra. His absolute favorite role, however, was being "Papa" to his four grandchildren: Chase Zitzmann, Maeve Boonstra, Maverick Zitzmann, and Otto Boonstra.

Papa’s house was a place of pure joy. The grandkids will forever cherish the memories of wrestling, eating popcorn, going for ice cream at the county park, and taking thrilling rides on Papa’s fast boat. Randy had a notoriously soft heart for them; he regularly perfected the art of "pretending not to notice" when the grandkids would slip into his room to steal money from his dresser to fill up their piggy banks.

Randy was a man of simple pleasures, most notably his legendary love for milk and cookies—a habit so strong he would wake up multiple times a night just to indulge in a midnight snack. And while he famously hated the absolute idea of ever getting a cat, fate had other plans. Coco the cat became his shadow, a fiercely loyal companion who refused to listen to anyone else but Randy.

Randy is survived by his loving wife, Amy; his parents, James and Doris; his children, Brady and Ayrika, and their spouses; his four adored grandchildren; and his siblings, Rebecca (Maurice) Booker, Kim (Jon) Lehrke, Kristi (Jim) Mason, and Jason (Erica) Zitzmann, along with many extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Roger and Shirley Becker; and his grandparents, Arthur and Charlotte Zitzmann, and Lester and Angeline Weber.

He will be deeply missed, but his stories, his humor, and his generous spirit will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew him.