MASON CITY — Zola Valene Borchardt, 90, of Mason City and formerly of Plymouth, died Friday, September 18, 2026, at Good Shepherd in Mason City, leaving behind a life filled with family, farm memories, road trips, card games and pies that could draw a crowd.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Rock Township, 1202 390th Street near Osage. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, at Champion Chapel, 702 State Street in Osage. Burial will follow the funeral service at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Carpenter.
Zola was born June 27, 1936, in McIntire, the sixth of seven children of Jess and Marie Nordyke. She attended school in Osage and graduated in 1954.
On November 14 of that year, she married Reuben Borchardt at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Osage. They made their home on the Borchardt family farm near Plymouth, where they raised their family and built a life together before moving to Mason City in 2016.
Zola was a homemaker, but her kitchen talents became well known far beyond the family table.
For several years, she baked for the Farmers Market, where customers would line up for her pies. Baking was one of the gifts she shared with others, and those pies became one of the many things people remembered about her.
Zola also knew her way around a garage sale.
She had an eye for finding treasures, enjoyed hunting for a good deal and had developed bargaining into something of an art form. Coming home with a bargain was part of the fun.
Travel brought plenty of good memories as well. Zola and Reuben enjoyed road trips with her siblings and their spouses and also traveled with their daughter, Jean. Playing cards was another favorite pastime.
She remained active at St. John’s Lutheran Church and served for many years as a 4-H leader, giving her time to generations of young people.
Zola was also known as a storyteller, and family gatherings provided plenty of opportunities for stories to be told and retold.
Family remained especially important throughout her life. She treasured visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the farm and looked forward to holidays when everyone could come together.
Zola is survived by her daughter, Jean (Jeff) Gallogly of Vincent; son, Dennis (Denine) Borchardt of Plymouth; four grandchildren, Heather Armstead, Josh (Holly) Borchardt, Rachel (Jamie Hennick) Borchardt and Andrew (Lauren) Borchardt; and seven great-grandchildren, Ravyn, Devin and Jaden Armstead, Dillon and Mattie Borchardt, and Emmett and Peyton Hennick.
She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and friends.
Zola was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Reuben; her parents, Jess and Marie Nordyke; grandson John Gallogly; brothers Mervin Nordyke, Donald Nordyke, Leonard “Dugan” Nordyke and an infant brother; sisters Neva Whitmore and Darla Barrett; her in-laws, Emil and Clara Borchardt; sisters-in-law Rosemary Nordyke, Hazel Nordyke and Irene Ward; and brother-in-law Walter Ward.
Hoff Celebrations – Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements. To read Zola’s full obituary, please click here.
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That is the remembrance format I should use automatically from here forward.