Obituary for Lt. Col. John B. Zinn, Jr.
Lt. Colonel John B. Zinn, Jr., 99, of Gettysburg, PA died Thursday, June 21, 2018 at his home.
He was born June 20, 1919 in Worcester, MA the son of the late John B. and Effie Miller Zinn of Gettysburg. The family returned to Gettysburg in 1925. John graduated from Gettysburg High School and Gettysburg College where he met his wife Frances Koenig Zinn, both class of 1941. They wed in 1943 before he left for Europe during WWII and were married for 63 years until her death in 2006.
With an ROTC commission John entered active duty in May 1943 as an Infantry Unit Commander in the U.S. Army, departing for France in 1944 with the 100th Division 399th Infantry 1st Battalion. Lt. Col. Zinn was awarded the World War II Victory Medal; the American Campaign Medal; The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars; the Combat Infantryman Badge; Distinguished Unit Badge; the Bronze Star Medal with Cluster; National Defense Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnam service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
After the war the family settled in Collingswood, NJ and Lancaster, PA. John had stayed in the Army Reserve and in December 1951 he was called back to active duty due to the Korean conflict. The next 17 years were spent in Fort McClellan, Anniston, AL; Mannheim, Germany; Utah General Depot, Ogden, UT; Governors Island, NY; Ft. George G. Meade, Laurel, MD; Vietnam; and back to Ft. Meade, retiring in Nov. 1968.
Returning to Gettysburg in 1974, John was involved with Meals-On-Wheels in Gettysburg and was a Board member for the Apple Line Bus Line. From 1980 until 1983 he was President of Gettysburg College Alumni Association, he was a Class Officer and was the Class of 1941 Class Correspondent. For over twenty years he was the House Manager for the ATO fraternity. He taught mathematics in the Gettysburg School District for 4 years in the late 70's. John was a member of Christ Lutheran Church where he was an altar boy in the 1930's and recently served on the Finance Committee. He also delivered the altar flowers to shut-ins well into his 90's.
John loved to travel and was happy to say he had been to all 50 states. He loved to visit with family and friends, attend local events, and host dinner parties. He was an active member of the Gettysburg community.
Lt. Col. Zinn is survived by a daughter, Joanne Z. Lewis of Fullerton, CA, a son, John B. Zinn, III of Mesa, AZ, six grandchildren; Alan H. Lewis, Jr., Heather L. Pietsch, John B. Zinn, IV, Shelley M. Whitney, Scott D. Zinn, Michael M. Zinn, 10 great grandchildren, and a niece, Margaret Anne Sheely. John was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Elizabeth Zinn Sheely.
A Memorial Service will be held, Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 11:00 AM from Christ Lutheran Church, Gettysburg with Rev. Stephen Herr officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or Gettysburg College, 300 North Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.
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He was born June 20, 1919 in Worcester, MA the son of the late John B. and Effie Miller Zinn of Gettysburg. The family returned to Gettysburg in 1925. John graduated from Gettysburg High School and Gettysburg College where he met his wife Frances Koenig Zinn, both class of 1941. They wed in 1943 before he left for Europe during WWII and were married for 63 years until her death in 2006.
With an ROTC commission John entered active duty in May 1943 as an Infantry Unit Commander in the U.S. Army, departing for France in 1944 with the 100th Division 399th Infantry 1st Battalion. Lt. Col. Zinn was awarded the World War II Victory Medal; the American Campaign Medal; The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars; the Combat Infantryman Badge; Distinguished Unit Badge; the Bronze Star Medal with Cluster; National Defense Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster; Vietnam service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
After the war the family settled in Collingswood, NJ and Lancaster, PA. John had stayed in the Army Reserve and in December 1951 he was called back to active duty due to the Korean conflict. The next 17 years were spent in Fort McClellan, Anniston, AL; Mannheim, Germany; Utah General Depot, Ogden, UT; Governors Island, NY; Ft. George G. Meade, Laurel, MD; Vietnam; and back to Ft. Meade, retiring in Nov. 1968.
Returning to Gettysburg in 1974, John was involved with Meals-On-Wheels in Gettysburg and was a Board member for the Apple Line Bus Line. From 1980 until 1983 he was President of Gettysburg College Alumni Association, he was a Class Officer and was the Class of 1941 Class Correspondent. For over twenty years he was the House Manager for the ATO fraternity. He taught mathematics in the Gettysburg School District for 4 years in the late 70's. John was a member of Christ Lutheran Church where he was an altar boy in the 1930's and recently served on the Finance Committee. He also delivered the altar flowers to shut-ins well into his 90's.
John loved to travel and was happy to say he had been to all 50 states. He loved to visit with family and friends, attend local events, and host dinner parties. He was an active member of the Gettysburg community.
Lt. Col. Zinn is survived by a daughter, Joanne Z. Lewis of Fullerton, CA, a son, John B. Zinn, III of Mesa, AZ, six grandchildren; Alan H. Lewis, Jr., Heather L. Pietsch, John B. Zinn, IV, Shelley M. Whitney, Scott D. Zinn, Michael M. Zinn, 10 great grandchildren, and a niece, Margaret Anne Sheely. John was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Elizabeth Zinn Sheely.
A Memorial Service will be held, Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 11:00 AM from Christ Lutheran Church, Gettysburg with Rev. Stephen Herr officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or Gettysburg College, 300 North Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.
Previous Events
Service
Tuesday
31
Jul
11:00 AM
Christ Lutheran Church
30 Chambersburg Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Cemetery Details
Location
Evergreen Cemetery
799 Baltimore St.
Gettysburg, PA 17325
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