John F. Zywicki

With his family by his side, John F. Zywicki, age 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 9, 2010, at his residence. John was born in Mosinee on July 7, 1930, son of the late Frank and Marie (nee: Krazanowski) Zywicki and grew up with his family as members of St. Paul’s Catholic Church..

John was a graduate of Mosinee High school “Class of 1949,” where he excelled at sports, especially baseball. He was in the Chicago White Sox baseball farm system before enlisting in the US Air Force where he proudly served overseas as crew chief during the Korean Conflict. On September 17, 1955, at St. Therese Catholic Church in Schofield, WI, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Joanne M. Schultz, and have since had fifty-five great years together. John was employed with the Rothchild Paper Mill for twelve years before moving to Racine in 1967 to join the JI Case Co. He was employed with JI Case as industrial supervisor for twenty-one years until his retirement in 1988. A sports enthusiast and great athlete, John played baseball well into his fifties. He also enjoyed his large collection of all types of music, carpentry, auto mechanics, fishing, the outdoors and his rose garden. More than anything, John will be best remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his loving wife, Joanne; his five children, Kathy Gedemer of Racine, Jodie (Ken) Kosciolek of Burnsville, MN, Vicki Zywicki, Jeanne (Chet) Williams, John (Eleanor) Zywicki, all of Racine; eight grandchildren, Scott and Brian Gedemer, Austin and Kyle Casey, Anna and Kayla Jandl, Sonny Mazurek, and Gunner Williams; sisters, Agnes Kukuzka, Josephine (Ted) Cynkar, Cecelia Dunaj; brother, George (Carolee) Zywicki; thirty-six nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, John was also preceded in death by his grandson, Jesse Dean Mazurek.

A Memorial service followed by full military honors will be held at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Ave., Saturday September 18, 2010, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen officiating. Memorials to the Mosinee High School Athletic Dept, the American Cancer Society or to the Veteran’s Administration have been suggested.

The family extends a special thank you to staffs at Wheaton Franciscan Hospice and the Veteran’s Administration and to Pam from Brightstar for all of their loving and compassionate care.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888