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Karl Zueger dies

Karl Zueger

MARQUETTE — A former Marquette advocate and city official has died.

Karl Zueger, 52, passed away peacefully with his family surrounding him on Saturday after a more than two-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS.

As the former director of community services, Zueger was known to be a passionate public servant who advocated for public art, senior services, conservation and more.

To honor Zueger for his selfless efforts, the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee asked the city to name the new scenic overlook at Father Marquette Park the Karl G. Zueger Scenic Overlook since he was instrumental with restoring and cleaning the statue and park. The park was re-dedicated in July.

Zueger worked directly with the beautification committee on the Father Marquette Park improvement project, resulting in a $140,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.

Jon Swenson, who stepped into the director of community services position after Zueger retired earlier this year, called Zueger a good planner.

“He was constantly looking at what the next steps were,” Swenson said. “A lot of times that included seeking grant funds for the community. During his time, we were successful with four Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants, two Michigan Natural Resources Passport grants, and one Land and Water Conservation grant.”

The grants were for things like the acquisition of Clark Lambros’ Park; building of the new restrooms around town, including Williams, Harlow and McCarty’s Cove parks; improvements to Tourist Park Campground; the Holly Street bike path extension near the Kaufman Sports Complex; and more.

“Karl was a huge champion of the arts and the creative community. He helped shepherd in the first Arts and Culture Master Plan that we’ve had,” Swenson said, adding that he was also an advocate for the senior center.

“He was really an advocate for senior care that the senior center provides by helping to get the millages passed that covered a lot of those cost.”

Before becoming director of community services, Zueger was assistant to the city manager.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held Nov. 9 with a greeting from 5-7 p.m. and stories and memories shared at 7 p.m. at Blackrocks Brewery Production Facility, which is located at 950 W. Washington St.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Zueger’s memory to the Marquette Trillium House. A complete obituary will be published in Tuesday’s edition of the Journal.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com.

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