Submitted by: Dan Rich

John E. Zanka Sr.

April 19, 1928 - July 5, 2007

South Bend Tribune 7/6/2007
SOUTH BEND - John E. Zanka Sr., 79, of South Bend, passed away at 3:02 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2007, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. John was born on April 19, 1928, in Chicago, IL, to John E. and Sophie (Romanowski) Zanka. Preceding John in death were his parents, and a brother, Dave Leda.

On October 30, 1948, in South Bend, John married Mary Ann Bencsics. She survives along with a daughter, Sandra A. Zanka of South Bend; sons, John E. (Patricia) Zanka Jr. and Daniel K. Zanka Sr., both of South Bend; grandchildren, Carrie Parmelee, Kymberlie Kolat, Lori Shively, Lisa Brunner and Daniel Zanka Jr.; 11 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Shirley (Ernie) Kolesiak of Warsaw, IN. John worked as a machinist at Bendix, retiring in 1985 after 30 years of service.

He served in the United States Army before being discharged in 1947. He was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, VFW Post #9820 and American Legion Post #357.

Visitation will be today, July 6, 2007, from 4 to 7 p.m. in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend. Funeral services will take place on July 7, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. Cremation will take place with interment at a later date at Highland Cemetery.