Obituary for Marie Zakeer Marie Zakeer, longtime restaurateur in Fort Dodge passed away Monday, June 4, 2018 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. In honoring her wishes, private services and burial will be held at a later date. Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services are entrusted with the arrangements.
Marie was born on October 3, 1926, the daughter of Albert and Skout Nasser in Sioux City, Iowa. She was one of seven siblings and was the last survivor. She graduated from Cathedral Catholic High School in Sioux City and attended Creighton University in Omaha for one year.
Marie was married to Robert Zakeer on May 25, 1957, in Sioux City and they made their home in Fort Dodge ever since. She worked in the office of Iowa Electric for 4 years before venturing into the restaurant business in September of 1961. Marie and her husband worked together in the restaurant for many years with the help of Bob’s mother Smi Zakeer.
The couple retired when the city bought their building in 2001, the building was demolished. They came out of retirement in 2003 as they assisted their son Tommy in the operation of the current location of Zakeer’s restaurant. Survivors include her son Robert Thomas “Tommy” Zakeer (Tara Grossnickle); grandchildren Miranda and her children, Alyna, Andres and Alyias, grandsons Jace and Seth, and many nieces and nephews, including special niece Elaine Huss and her family of Fort Dodge.
Marie was preceded in death by her beautiful daughter Lori Jean in 2004 and her beloved husband Bob in August of 2015. Marie was a 60 plus year member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, member of PEO Chapter JX. Marie spent 16 years of her life in office work.
She loved to cook, bake, and loved passing recipes to others and teaching a few of the specialty of Lebanese food to close friends. For over 20 years she enjoyed a hobby of sending cards to those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries announced in the Fort Dodge Messenger Lifestyle section. She hopes for someone to continue her hobby in her memory.
Marie would like to thank all of her faithful customers and friends, her beautiful sisters in PEO and the many friends in the CD of A. She gave thanks to God for making it possible for Bob and her to adopt their son Tom at the age of 10 days. We were so proud of him and especially thank him for all his hard work in becoming one of the greatest cook and bakers in the area. Memorials may be made to the donor’s charity of choice in Marie’s name.
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