Martin Zaccone
November 11, 1932 — March 12, 2024
Cologero Martino Zaccone was born in Council Bluffs, lowa, on November 11, 1932, to Paolino Zaccone and Rosaria Zuchetto Zaccone. Born on the feast of St. Martin of Tours, he was always called Martino, so he legally changed his name to Martin Charles. The first two years of his life were spent in Sicily, where his parents immigrated from. The family returned to Council Bluffs and in 1950 he graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. He entered the Navy and was on the ship USS Amphion (AR-13). Upon honorable discharge, he enrolled at Creighton University. As luck would have it, he met a beautiful, smart blonde in his freshman English class! He and Mary Jane Jacobsen of Harlan, lowa were married on September 2, 1957. Martin graduated from Creighton in May of 1958, and they moved to Mount Pleasant, lowa, to begin his pharmacy career. He and Mary Jane and their growing family moved to Harlan in 1960 to take over Pexton Drug Store, where he enjoyed serving his customers anytime of the day or night, for over 30 years. It was in Harlan that Martin began his life of faith, family, and service, principles he learned from the Creighton Jesuits.
Martin was very active at St. Michael's Catholic Parish, in the Harlan Community and beyond. It was working on the fundraising and planning committee for the JJ Jensen Ballpark that helped bring that outstanding facility to the community of Harlan. It was working on a nondenominational committee that helped bring two Cambodian refugee families to America to start a new life in Harlan. He became a surrogate father to the Taing and Hong families, still near and dear to their hearts. It was serving on the Diocesan Pastoral Council that enabled Martin and his family to receive communion from then Pope John Paul ll at the Living History Farms in Des Moines in 1979. And it was serving as a volunteer for the American Red Cross that took Martin around the country, serving those affected by disasters, including two trips to Ground Zero in New York after the 9/11 attacks.
While Martin served on many boards and committees, he also coached, he cheered, he gave drug talks to churches and schools, always very generous with his time and talents. Back at home, he was the father that we all want our husbands and sons to be. He and Mary Jane raised four daughters and three sons in the wonderful community of Harlan. Martin was his kids' biggest cheerleader. At his core, Martin was always the teacher. His education from the Jesuits taught him that every moment, every situation was a chance to learn. His grandkids adored him! Family gatherings were always a highly anticipated, joyful chaos! Every gathering started with a blessing from Grandpa! Peace be with you! May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!
Martin played golf in his younger years, then took up tennis, priding himself with keeping up with the younger players. He loved the family snow skiing vacations and Canadian fishing trips. Martin loved a good game of cards and he and Mary Jane took regular trips to the 'boats' in Council Bluffs. There was always a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table. You could regularly see Martin tooling around town on his beloved moped. In later years, he walked uptown everyday, to pick up his mail and to stop in to say hi to Joe, discussing the daily markets. After Mary Jane passed in 2020, Martin's health declined. He spent the last two and a half years at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge, lowa, where Michele and Nancy were able to say the rosary with him daily.
Martin is preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl, Mary Jane, son Joe and grandson Paul. He is survived by daughters Kerry Moore (Kevin) of Overland Park, KS, Michele Johnson (Scott) of Fort Dodge, Nancy Crimmins (Mark) of Fort Dodge, Paula LeMense (Joel) of Leawood, KS, Mark (Kim) Zaccone and Tom Zaccone of Harlan. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, Kyle, Bryan, Stephany, Kimberly, Kelly, Sam, Ben, Jake, Mandy, Megan, Claire, Adam, Zach, and 15 great grandchildren, with two more due to arrive this year.
We want to thank the entire staff of the 500 wing at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge for the tremendous care and respect given to Martin the past two and a half years!
Vios Con Dios Dad!!
In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made in Martin's name to St. Michael's Endowment Fund or Marian Home in Fort Dodge.
Martin was very active at St. Michael's Catholic Parish, in the Harlan Community and beyond. It was working on the fundraising and planning committee for the JJ Jensen Ballpark that helped bring that outstanding facility to the community of Harlan. It was working on a nondenominational committee that helped bring two Cambodian refugee families to America to start a new life in Harlan. He became a surrogate father to the Taing and Hong families, still near and dear to their hearts. It was serving on the Diocesan Pastoral Council that enabled Martin and his family to receive communion from then Pope John Paul ll at the Living History Farms in Des Moines in 1979. And it was serving as a volunteer for the American Red Cross that took Martin around the country, serving those affected by disasters, including two trips to Ground Zero in New York after the 9/11 attacks.
While Martin served on many boards and committees, he also coached, he cheered, he gave drug talks to churches and schools, always very generous with his time and talents. Back at home, he was the father that we all want our husbands and sons to be. He and Mary Jane raised four daughters and three sons in the wonderful community of Harlan. Martin was his kids' biggest cheerleader. At his core, Martin was always the teacher. His education from the Jesuits taught him that every moment, every situation was a chance to learn. His grandkids adored him! Family gatherings were always a highly anticipated, joyful chaos! Every gathering started with a blessing from Grandpa! Peace be with you! May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!
Martin played golf in his younger years, then took up tennis, priding himself with keeping up with the younger players. He loved the family snow skiing vacations and Canadian fishing trips. Martin loved a good game of cards and he and Mary Jane took regular trips to the 'boats' in Council Bluffs. There was always a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table. You could regularly see Martin tooling around town on his beloved moped. In later years, he walked uptown everyday, to pick up his mail and to stop in to say hi to Joe, discussing the daily markets. After Mary Jane passed in 2020, Martin's health declined. He spent the last two and a half years at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge, lowa, where Michele and Nancy were able to say the rosary with him daily.
Martin is preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl, Mary Jane, son Joe and grandson Paul. He is survived by daughters Kerry Moore (Kevin) of Overland Park, KS, Michele Johnson (Scott) of Fort Dodge, Nancy Crimmins (Mark) of Fort Dodge, Paula LeMense (Joel) of Leawood, KS, Mark (Kim) Zaccone and Tom Zaccone of Harlan. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, Kyle, Bryan, Stephany, Kimberly, Kelly, Sam, Ben, Jake, Mandy, Megan, Claire, Adam, Zach, and 15 great grandchildren, with two more due to arrive this year.
We want to thank the entire staff of the 500 wing at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge for the tremendous care and respect given to Martin the past two and a half years!
Vios Con Dios Dad!!
In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made in Martin's name to St. Michael's Endowment Fund or Marian Home in Fort Dodge.
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