Obituary for Lloyd Louis Zell

Lloyd Louis Zell was born September 3, 1936, in Fredericksburg, Chickasaw County, Iowa, to Paul C. Zell and Huldina Sophie (Schultz). And while the dates and places tell us when and where Lloyd began his life, they don’t begin to tell the story of the man he became.

Lloyd was, in every sense of the word, quite the character.

He married Joan Joyce Noel on July 28, 1958. Together, they raised four children. Though their marriage eventually ended in divorce, Lloyd’s greatest legacy was always his family—and the generations that followed.

Lloyd spent 33 years at John Deere in Waterloo. He started there at just 18 years old in 1955 and retired on December 22, 1988, at the age of 52. But retirement never really meant “retiring” for Lloyd. He simply retired from having a time clock.

If something was broken, Lloyd wanted to know why. If something could be fixed, he was going to fix it. And if it couldn't be fixed the way it was supposed to be fixed, well… there was always another way.

Lloyd could fix just about anything John Deere-related, and a whole lot of things that weren't. He was a “non-diploma-earned mechanical engineer” long before anyone thought to give him the title. He had an uncanny ability to look at a problem, study it for a while, and come up with a solution that usually involved designing, modifying, fabricating, or repurposing something rather than simply buying a replacement.

There was always a bit of Lloyd magic involved. "Move that box juuuuust a little bit." "Tighten that screw juuuuust a little bit."  Whatever it was, it was never quite where Lloyd wanted it yet. And somehow, after that “juuuuust a little bit,” it was usually exactly right.

The words “You know what we should do…” were often the beginning of another project. And once a project was underway, there was always a solution to any problem at hand. Sometimes it involved careful engineering. Sometimes it involved a little patience and a "juuuuust a little bit" of adjustment. And when all else failed, there was always the angle grinder and the BFH—the Big Freaking Hammer.

Lloyd loved sharing what he knew, too. His family affectionately called these tutorials “Lessons With Lloyd.” Whether he was repairing something, building something, explaining how something worked, or demonstrating a solution nobody else had thought of, Lloyd was always willing to teach. In later years, he got a genuine kick out of sharing his latest projects and repairs on Facebook and seeing how many people enjoyed following along.

Lloyd had a lifelong love of stock car racing. His race car proudly carried the Hamm’s Beer bear and the number 18—a combination that was unmistakably Lloyd. Even his mobility scooter eventually received the same treatment. If he couldn't get behind the wheel of a race car anymore, he was at least going to make sure everyone knew who was coming down the aisle.

Lloyd loved to fish—pretty much for anything and everything that would bite. Some of his happiest memories were made traveling with his special friend Marilyn to Canada for salmon fishing or taking family trips to Chetek. For Lloyd, fishing was about more than what ended up on the end of the line. It was about being together, telling stories, spending time outdoors, and making memories that would outlast the fish.

A love of the outdoors carried over into Lloyd’s garden. He was an avid gardener who took particular pride in planting, growing, and processing sorghum, “gotta have it” sweet corn, and Japanese hulless popcorn with Marilyn. There was always something growing, harvesting, or being processed around Lloyd’s place, and he was more than happy to share the fruits—or kernels—of his labor with family and friends. 

Lloyd passed away on August 29, 2026, at the Sumner Community Hospital, Sumner, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul C. Zell and Huldina Sophie Schultz; his grandson, CJ Eggers; his son-in-law, Dale Deuell; and his special friend of 30 years, Marilyn Ehlers.

Lloyd leaves behind his children, Deb Deuell, Scott Zell, Andy (Alicia) Zell, and Jeni (Dick) Woodard; grandchildren Austin Zell, Amanda Zell, Aaron (Emily) Zell, Travis (Ari) Jensen, Brian Jensen, and Emily Jensen; and great-grandchildren Elio Zell, Roman Jensen, and Jude Jensen. They will carry his memory with them in all the little things—a lesson he taught, a project he started, a fishing trip, something growing in the garden, or a machine that still runs because he once fixed it. Because Lloyd's greatest legacy isn't just what he built or repaired. It's what he passed on to the people who knew and loved him.

A private family memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chickasaw County Conservation Board, 1811 240th Street, Ionia, IA 50645, in Lloyd’s memory.