Darlene M. Zenz

Darlene M. (Morse) Zenz, age 63, of Toledo, Ohio passed away on Friday March 6, 2020. She was born January 8, 1957 to Michael (Mike) Morse and Carole (OConnor) Morse in Toledo, Ohio. Mike passed away July 11, 1960 from injuries sustained in a work related accident. Carole remarried on May 26, 1961 to Neil Brandhuber who became Darlenes step father. Carole and Neil divorced 25 years later in August 1986. Darlene attended Harvard Elementary and Bowsher High School where she graduated a year early. Darlene met Doug Zenz in Bowshers parking lot after school while he was with a friend that had driven there to meet up with Darlenes good friend and classmate Marla Bowes. Doug later called and recorded what was to be a prank call that lasted over an hour. That call was the beginning of a life long relationship. After five years of dating Darlene proposed to Doug and the two were married on September 4, 1976. They had two children, Chad and Kristin. Darlene attended Owens Technical College after high school studying accounting and related business classes. Several years later Darlene quit her job as a Claims Examiner with the State of Ohio Unemployment Office and returned to school to study Real Estate, Real Estate Appraisal, and business courses. She completed her studies in 1994, receiving honors for maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She went on to sell Real Estate in addition to being the Office Manager and Sales Consultant at First Class Floor Covering, LLC, a company she and Doug started in 1990. Darlene loved going to garage sales, antique stores, and flea markets. For many years she was in charge of the annual neighborhood sales. Darlene found joy in the simple things in life including going for walks in the park, riding bikes, swimming, reading books while listening to music, collecting antique glassware and stuffed bears. Darlene was preceded in death by her father Michael (Mike) Morse, mother Carole (OConnor Morse) Brandhuber, step brother Neil (Tom) Brandhuber Jr., and step sister Toni (Brandhuber Rohrs) Fitzgerald. Surviving are husband Douglas (Doug) Zenz, son Chad (Jenninfer) Zenz, daughter Kristin Zenz, precious granddaughter Rhiannon Zenz, sisters Laurie (Morse) (John) Stevens, and Dawn Brandhuber, very special person Nate Vallade and two loving Irish Setters Katie and Kiera. “If I should live forever and all my dreams com true, my memories of love will be of you.” (From John Denvers song, “Perhaps Love”) Those wishing to make a donation in Darlenes memory may do so with the American Heart Foundation, Diabetes Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, or you favorite charity.