Randee L. Vierk

It was April 1956. Elvis Presley performed "Heartbreak Hotel" on the Milton Berle Show, the world's first successful container ship set sail, heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano retired undefeated, and an extraordinary person and lover of all things pink, Randee Lynn Lively was born. A bright girl and diligent student with many talents Randee played the piano, was in the drama club, sang in the church choir and volunteered at the American Heart Association. It was no surprise that when Randee graduated in 1974 from Southgate High School, she was in the top ten of her class.

After graduating, Randee attended the University of Michigan. It was during her time at U of M that her deep love of college football and her Michigan Wolverines began. She also forged strong bonds and cherished friendships through her involvement with Zeta Tau Alpha Gamma chapter. As her beloved ZTA sisters would tell it, Randee embodied the motto "Zeta is Forever" by serving in many alumnae volunteer positions. She was Collegiate National Officer, overseeing collegiate chapters in Michigan in the 1980s, President of the Toledo Alumnae Chapter in the 1990s, and President of the Toledo Area Alumnae Panhellenic in the 2000s. Randee served as the Collegiate General Advisor for the Ohio Northern University chapter in the 2000s and in 2002 she received her ZTA Honor Ring, "the Honor Ring is ZTA's highest individual honor. It is presented to alumnae who have rendered sustained and outstanding service to ZTA at the local and national level." Giving back to the sorority she loved meant a great deal to her. It was common for Randee to host events for her ZTA Toledo Alumnae Chapter and Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter sisters in her home.

It was when Randee accepted a job at Montgomery Ward as the Housewares Manager that she met the man who would become her loving husband, Mike. Mike and Randee were married on September 16, 1977, and spent the early years of their marriage working together, bowling together in several leagues, and snow skiing, before growing their family to include their sons Matt and Steve. As a mother, Randee was completely dedicated to her sons. She took immense pride in their accomplishments, laughed at their antics, and loved attending their baseball, football, and lacrosse games over the years. As a family they also spent quality time together at art fairs where Randee’s exceptional baskets were on display.

Randee enjoyed making holidays for her family and friends extra special, investing hours to prepare home cooked meals, special desserts, and coordinated decor. Randee made sure that everyone who entered their home was treated as family and soon, Matt and Steve’s friends began calling her Mama V. Her homemade jam became famous to everyone who was fortunate enough to be gifted a jar.

At Christmas, Randee transformed their home, taking immense pride making cookies to share with friends and family and decorating trees throughout the house, giving each tree a theme that was special to her: ZTA, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Disney, and baking trees to name a few. Possibly the most beautiful tree was the main family Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments having the most value to Randee, school and sports pictures of her boys.

Randee was a fun grandma who relished in spending quality time with Blake, Hannah, and Henry, whether it was baking, making ornaments, or playing with Legos or Barbie’s. She started a special tradition of buying them each a Christmas ornament of what they were dressed as for Halloween every year. She adored her grandchildren, shared her amazing creativity with them, and was always so proud of their accomplishments while watching them grow.

Randee’s talents, kindness, sense of humor, and love will be missed by those that were privileged to know her.

Randee Lynn (Lively) Vierk, of Metamora, Ohio, age 68 passed away peacefully, in Sylvania, Ohio on December 12, 2024. Randee was preceded in death by her father, Zenis Lively and brother-in-law David Camblin. Surviving is her husband of 47 years, Michael Vierk; sons, Matthew (Erica) Vierk and Stephen (Christie) Vierk; grandchildren, Blake, Hannah, and Henry; mother, Janet Lively; sisters; Audree (Patrick) Tierney, and Patricia Lively. Randee will be honored during the memorial service at the ZTA biennial Convention in July 2026 and a Celebration of Life will be held for Randee at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made in Randee’s honor to the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity | Foundation.