Jack Arthur Zvolanek
Jack Arthur Zvolanek, 91, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2018 in Ellsworth, Kan. He was born Feb. 13, 1927 in Ellsworth, to Anton and Sophia (Hajny) Zvolanek, and was raised on a farm east of Black Wolf, Kan. He attended South Excelsior Elementary School south of Black Wolf, helped his dad as well as neighbors with farm work and graduated from Ellsworth High School, where he played football every year.
During Jack’s senior year, he and several of his friends joined the U.S. Navy to serve in World War II. Jack’s tour of duty was on a troop carrying ship to the Pacific War Zone. After the war, was over, he and his buddies returned to Ellsworth to finish their senior year of high school and took classes to get their G.E.D. certificates. In 1947 Jack was hired as a lineman by S.W. Bell Telephone Company, and worked two years as an unlocated lineman.
Jack and Pauline Marcotte were married April 17, 1948 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth and soon after moved to Abilene, Kan. where he was a central office repairman and toll transmission technician for S.W. Bell. He retired in 1985 after 39 years.
The couple had five children and raised them on a small farm between Abilene and Solomon, where they also raised melons and Christmas trees, and a few farm animals. Jack was an avid outdoorsman; loved game hunting, golfing, boating and fishing, especially river fishing. Other hobbies were fossil hunting, hunting for Indian relics and rock hounding.
When sons John, Neal and Jim were growing up, Jack coached Little League baseball until they were too old to play, but Jack umpired Little League and men’s softball games for many more years.
After retirement, Jack and Pauline brought a motor home and started traveling, visiting most of the U.S., the North Eastern Canadian Provinces and parts of Mexico.
In 1990 the couple moved back home to Ellsworth County, living for 13 years in Wilson before moving to Ellsworth. Jack spend most of his spare time golfing or fishing, playing poker on Wednesday nights with his buddies, and volunteering for the senior center as a driver delivering meals. He served as the president of the Wilson Lions Club for many years
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Victor; and his sister, Helen Peppiatt.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Pauline; five children, John (Berta) of Lincoln, Ca.; Connie (Lynn) Graf, South Wilmington, Ill.; Teresa (Dave) Second, Galva, Kan.; Neal (Tina) of Abilene, Kan.; and Jim, Kanopolis, Kan.; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has been chosen and a celebration of life memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Ellsworth Senior Center, 115 E. N. Main Street.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Ellsworth Senior Center, the Ellsworth County Historical Society, the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church or the St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
