OBITUARY: James ‘Jim’ Leon Zook

James (Jim) Leon Zook, 82, passed away February 9, 2021. He was born to Aaron Leroy and Naomi Detwiler Zook on August 22, 1938 in Kalona, Iowa.

Jim completed his education at Iowa Mennonite High School graduating in 1956. He attended Hesston College for one year where he met his future wife Janet Schrock. Jim had a successful career as a design draftsman for several companies in the Denver area. He has his name on 3 patens for parts he designed for kidney dialysis machines.

Jim enjoyed being active. Spending time outside, making items out of wood, working on his model train set display and putting puzzles together. He volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages, Et Cetera shop, and was a member of the Lion’s Club of Hesston. He enjoyed singing with the Kansas Mennonite Men’s choir, and the Schowalter Villa Men’s Choir. Jim and Janet also enjoyed traveling.

Jim and Janet were married on June 11, 1960 at Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church in Garden City, Missouri. They moved to Denver Colorado for Jim to serve in 1-W service. They stayed for 43 years.  In 2005 they retired in Hesston, Kansas.  He was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet, Hesston, KS; daughters, Jana (Mike) Miller of Indianapolis, IN and Joanne (Phil) Burckhart, of Buhler KS. Three grandchildren, John (Audrey) Miller of Fishers, IN; Marita (Jason) Illescas, of Indianapolis, IN; Luke Burckhart of Buhler, KS.

A sister Rozella (John) Lehman of Applecreek, OH and brothers Phil (Karen) Zook of Colorado Springs, CO and Les (Grace) Zook of Deep River, IA. Sisters-in-law Leta (Frank) Bontrager of Lakewood, CO, Ruth Zook of Mechanicsburg, PA, Janet A. Zook of Savannah, MO. and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Marlin and Samuel Zook.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be at Hesston Mennonite Church on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 11:00.

The service will be available online at hesstonmc.org/memorial

Memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, P.O. Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.

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