Samuel Frederick Zierke

Samuel Frederick Zierke, 95, of Palm Harbor, FL passed away November 30, 2025. He was a
beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Sam was born in Albany, California, on September 29, 1930 to Samuel Frederick Zierke Sr and
Anna Martha Terro Zierke. After graduating from Albany High School, Sam began his printing
company only to be drafted into the Korean War in 1950 and served for two years. He was in
the army division of the Combat Engineers. After returning home, he spent years in advertising,
marketing and public relations in the greater San Francisco area. He moved to Los Angeles and
obtained his Real Estate Broker License in 1972 and began syndicating apartment buildings
using General Partnerships. His real estate expanded into Oregan where he purchased motels.
He formed a software development company writing exclusive database language. Also, he was
hired by Datapoint Corporation and assigned to Northrup Aviation to design underground
communication which was used during the Gulf War. Iowa Power and Light Company in Des
Moines, Iowa, hired him in 1984 to handle personnel and communication systems for IBM main
frame supporting all their offices. In 1995, he became Director of Computer Services for
Intermedia Communications in Tampa, Florida.
After retiring in 2000, Sam and his wife opened their own real estate company, Dove Florida
Real Estate in Tampa, Florida. They teamed together in selling residential real estate in the
Tampa Bay area. In 2016, Sam chose to only work on computer software, and Dove Florida was
closed.
He leaves his wife Gwen of 58 years and two daughters, Anne (Shawn) Mansfield in Chicago,
Illinois, and Carol (Peter) Grogan in Palos Verdes, California, and four grandsons, Payton
Mansfield, and Tanner, Maddox and Ryder Grogan. Sam was known for his kindness, patience,
superior work ethic, experience and knowledge in a broad range of fields, dedication to his
family and faithfulness to the Lord. After a stroke November 2 nd , he passed peacefully with his
wife by his side on November 30th.
Memorials can be made to Idlewild Baptist Church, Missions Fund, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd,
Lutz, FL 33548 or St. Mark Village Foundation, 2655 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor, FL 34684.