John Ziemba

September 13, 2012

Graveside services for John E. Ziemba will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at Highland Cemetery in Iola. John passed away at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring Hospice facility in Jacksonville, Fla., on July 13, 2012 and was later cremated.

John was born Feb. 29, 1924 in Chicago to Peter and Clara (Haas) Ziemba. He grew up in Chicago. John joined the U.S. Navy in December 1942 and served in World War II as a turret gunner and was honorably discharged in March of 1946.

In 1974, John and his family moved to Iola through Berg Manufacturing. In 1976, he owned and operated John’s Grocery at the corner of Madison and East Street. He enjoyed having a deli the workers at Walton Foundry could go to for lunch and have fresh sliced luncheon meat and his homemade potato salad. 

He worked for Quality Packaging for several years before returning to Midland Brake (Haldex). He retired in 1989.

In Iola, he was an active member of the Elks and American Legion. In Florida, he was a member of the VFW, Elks and Moose Lodge.

John married Darlene Jeanne Schueneman in 1960, who preceded him in death in May 1991. They had four daughters, Clarice and Lonnie Henkle, Iola, Jackie Mynes, Baldwin, Fla., Jolyn and Dale Brown, Sunrise, Fla., and Cathi and Dave Alonzo, Aurora, Ill. He also had a stepson, Raymond and Diana Stephens, Estill Springs, Tenn. He had 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

John also leaves behind his caring wife of 12 years, Maritza; a brother, Charles, Mt. Washington, Ken.; a sister-in-law, Cathy Schueneman, Jacksonville, Fla., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers Herbert and Wallace.