Reverend John W. Zielasko, 96, Winona Lake, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 6:57 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at his residence.

He was born on May 7, 1921, in Minersville, Penn. to John L. Zielasko and Marfell (Warlow) Zielasko. On July 22, 1944, he was married to F. Jean (Beveridge) Zielasko, who passed away on Nov. 12, 2013. They shared 69 years of marriage together.

Rev. Zielasko served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1945. He earned his B.S. degree from Millersville, Penn. and his B.D. from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake. In 1979 he also earned his Master’s from Grace Theological Seminary.

From 1952-1966, he, along with his wife and family served as missionaries in Brazil under the Grace Brethren Missions. Rev. Zielasko also served as the general director of the Grace Brethren Foreign Missionary Society from 1966-1985.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 253 of North Webster and a longtime member of Lakeland Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his four children: John R. (wife Sharon W.) Zielasko, Hemet, Calif.; Ann L. (husband H. James) Tallman, South Bend; James M. (wife Terri L.) Zielasko, Winona Lake; and Janet S. (husband Dr. Thomas L.) Ryerson, Corona, Calif. Rev. Zielasko also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren: Corrine A. Tallman, Clinton J. (wife Lenka) Tallman, Chad M. (wife Anastasia) Tallman, Tyler J. (wife Kari B.) Zielasko, Christopher J. (wife Crystal L.) Zielasko, J. Douglas (wife Ladeen L.) Zielasko, Kendra M. (husband Sean A.) Smith, Evan G. (wife Kathryn L.) Ryerson, Elyssa F. (husband Andrew) Harootian, Elena S. (husband Jonathan) Le, Elliot J. (wife Jessica) Ryerson, James R. (wife Tiffany) Hatch, Jeffrey D. (wife Sel) Hatch, and Jerod R. (wife Rachael) Hatch. He is survived as well by 22 great-grandchildren: Joshua, Suzie, Isaac, Jackson, Layla, Ryland, Emery, Logan, Glenn, Jerod, Lucy, Liam, Jashawn, Jada, Mia, Jordon, Evžen, Žofie, Valierie, Elijah, Elana and Beckett.  Other survivors are his brother:  Ned Zielasko (Ephrata, Pennsylvania); and his sister Jeanette Gauntlet (York, Pennsylvania).

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and daughter-in-law Suzan M. (Goodman) Zielasko.

His funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw and officiated by Dr. Russell E. Simpson. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. There will be visitation prior to the service from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be directed to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196 or Lakeland Grace Brethren Church, 2538 S. County Farm Rd. Warsaw, IN 46580 and would be appreciated by the family.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com