Zachary Robert Love, 32, of Grand Forks, ND, and a Crookston native, passed away Wednesday afternoon, October 9, 2024, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks. Zach had experienced sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
Zach, as he was affectionately known throughout his life, was born in Crookston on April 27, 1992, the son of Larry Robert and Julie Marie (Obritsch) Love. He was baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church and later confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. At just a year and a half old, Zach was diagnosed with malignant brain cancer, marking the beginning of a brave battle for him and his family. While modern medicine and dedicated doctors provided crucial care, other sources of strength played significant roles in his journey. God, Happy Joe’s pizza, and Thomas the Tank were comforting distractions, but most importantly, his beloved grandpa, Larry, offered unwavering support. By the age of six and a half, Zach was declared cancer-free! Finally free to embrace childhood, he attended Washington Elementary School, Highland Middle School, and Crookston High School, where he thrived in sports, especially baseball, before graduating with the Class of 2010. Zach’s passion for baseball extended into adult softball leagues, where he created a team with his closest friends and played in a Grand Forks league.
Zach then enrolled at Hennepin Tech in Minneapolis where he studied architectural design. After returning to Crookston, he was employed at American Crystal and drove for TranSystems. Over the years Zach worked at various businesses in the Grand Forks area that all centered around trucking and construction. Early in 2024 he began employment with Strata. Zach’s grandpa, Larry, had worked at Bradshaw Gravel for twenty-seven years before he passed away very unexpectedly on November 30, 2001. Zach said several times that his goal was to be working for Strata longer than his granddad did!
One of the best periods of Zach’s life was when he met the love of his life. In the summer of 2013, Zach and a young lady, Brittany Johnson attended a Johnny Holmes dance at the Maple Lake Pavilion near Mentor. When their eyes met, it was love at first sight (as true as it can be). They started dating days later, and on Halloween night 5 months later at another Johnny Holmes dance in Fargo, Zach proposed—and Brittany joyfully accepted. They were married on June 27, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Grand Forks, and a few years later became the proud parents of their pride and joy, a beautiful baby girl named Addison. Addi became the center of Zach’s universe. Making memories with Brittany and Addi was the most important part of Zach’s life and their love for him will remain eternal.
In addition to Brittany and 7 year-old Addi who was his world, Zach leaves his beloved Dad and Mom, Larry and Julie Love of Crookston; brother and sister-in-law, Brady and Emily Love and their daughter, Blakely; sister, Allie Love and her fiancé, Wayne Weyers, of Thief River Falls, MN; his special grandparents, Nikki Love, of Crookston and Mike and Brenda Obritsch of Rapid City, SD; aunts and uncles: Heather Love of Minneapolis, Nichole and Rob Usera of Rapid City, SD, and Travis Obritsch of Dickinson, ND; his parents-in-law, Ivan and Debbie Johnson of Grand Forks; sister-in-law, Kristen Clay and her children, Carter, Joey, Chloe, and Grace; grand-parents-in-law, Delores Daley of Grafton, ND, and Ed and Eunice Pecka of Grand Forks; together with several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many friends. The family gains some comfort knowing that grandpa, Larry Love, was waiting to welcome Zach to heaven.
May God bless Zach’s memory to all who shared in his life.
The funeral service honoring Zach’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 18th, 2024, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston with The Rev. Greg Isaacson, officiating. Visitation will be for one hour before the service. There will also be a visitation for Zach on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, with a 7pm prayer service and the sharing of memories. Graveside prayers will take place in Oakdale Cemetery at 3:45p.m. Friday marks what would have been the 94th birthday of Zach’s great-grandmother, Martha Braun. The services will all be livestreamed by going to www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on Zach’s obituary page to view. In lieu of flowers memorials to the family are preferred.
