Thomas E. Zitnak , age 95 of Blue Earth, formerly of Austin, Minn., died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, Minn.

Tom was born Feb. 24, 1915 in Osage, Iowa to Thomas and Anna Zitnak. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School , Iowa in 1933 and worked at the U.S. Post Office in St. Ansgar and the John Deere plant in Waterloo, Iowa prior to beginning work at the Geo. A. Hormel Co. in Austin. He was employed by Hormel for over thirty years. He was married to Verna A. Beyer on May 1, 1939 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Tom lived in Austin until January of 2009, at which time he moved to St. Luke’s in Blue Earth.

Tom is survived by his sons: Thomas D. (Anne) Zitnak, Lino Lakes, Minn. and Dennis (Sue) Zitnak, Blue Earth, Minn.; his step-brother: William Slaichert of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren: David (Diane) Zitnak, Maple Grove, Minn., Douglas (Lana Marie) Zitnak, Buffalo, Minn., Julie (Michael) Connolly, Shoreview, Minn., Abby (Jason) Buckley, Middleton, Wis., Jane (Ryaan) Glynn, Madison, Wis., and Natalie Zitnak, Madison, Wis.; great-grandchildren: Ben and Kali Zitnak, Kieran and Shea Connolly, Kate, Jack and Sam Buckley, and Clara and Gabe Glynn.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Verna in 1991.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, Minn. with Pastor David Fleischmann officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 at Clasen-Jordan Funeral Home in Austin and one hour before services at the church.