James Joseph Zahorik

My beautiful husband, James Joseph Zahorik, known to most as “Jimmy Z” was a friendly, always upbeat, with a gentle soul. He was a leader not a follower, he was his “own man” and that’s what I loved most about him.

Jimmy Z was born on September 29, 1952 at the University Hospital in Galveston, TX. His parents were Rose Jean Campo and Charles John Zahorik. Jimmy grew up in Galveston and Texas City, TX. He has only one sibling, Charles John (Johnny) Zahorik. They had a wonderful childhood; they would go on trips all over the US with their father.

Jimmy Z graduated from Texas City High School, in Texas City, TX, in 1970. He had great friends and enjoyed his high school years.

After high school, Jimmy was drafted into the U.S. Army. He did 6 weeks of basic training in Ft. Polk, LA. He was promoted to E4 when he completed his training. He served the U.S. Army from 1972 through 1974, and was stationed at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, TX. However, while in basic training he married his hometown sweetheart on September 23, 1972. Jimmy Z married Yolanda Iris Hernandez at Sacred Heart Church in Galveston, TX.

After serving 2 years in the US Army, Jimmy went to work for IWECO, in Texas City, TX, as a truck driver but in a very short time he was promoted to outside sales, which he truly loved and eventually promoted to Manager, but he was an outside person and didn’t want to sit behind a desk. After several years, in the late 1980s he decided to open his own business selling welding products. Unfortunately, due to the ailing oil economy after about 18 months he had to close his business.

Jimmy then went to work in sales for Panther Industries in 1990, whose corporate office was located in Ft. Worth, TX. Later, Panther Industries changed its name to Texas Refinery Corporation. He continued working for Texas Refinery Corporation as a part-time salesman selling quality lubricants from 2007 through 2014.

Jimmy Z opened his own business “Jimmy Z Cleaning Solutions Inc.” in 2007, selling industrial and paper products. His motto was “Where Your Business Is Appreciated”! He also continued to work under contract for Texas Refinery Corporation.

Jimmy Z’s clients included approximately 100 mile radius in and around the Canyon Lake area. He worked with clients in Canyon Lake, Sattler, Startsville, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Selma, San Antonio, Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi, TX. Most of his life he worked as a Sales Representative, which was fitting because he was so upbeat and friendly and treated his customers with the utmost respect. He was very organized and a competitor, so he enjoyed the challenge of winning his customers over, but in a good way. His customers trusted him, and that mattered to Jimmy Z. He truly enjoyed having his own business because it brought him his own independence, that’s what I loved about him.

Jimmy Z enjoyed having family and friends in our home. He liked to B-B-Q, play card games, dominos, throw washers, and sometimes later in the evening he would gather the kids on our back deck and tell ghost stories to our great nieces and nephews. They would gather so close to him that their knees were touching his. Jimmy Z liked feeding the birds and deer, mixing up food for the humming birds and planting flowers on our back deck. In addition, he loved fishing, hunting, reading; especially history war books. Although, he never caught any fish, he loved trying.

Jimmy Z was a member of the VFW Post 8800 in Startsville, TX. He was so beloved at the VFW. He had many friends and they all thought highly of my husband. There is a lady named Margie that works in the kitchen and she told me that Jimmy Z use to talk about me all the time. Obviously I was not too far from his mind and he was never too far from mine. Jimmy Z had the ability to befriend anyone he met.

Jimmy Z had plans to retire in a couple of years, and wanted to work 2-3 days a week. He was very organized, and liked to keep everything in its place. In addition, we had rental property in Galveston, TX, and had just sold it on June 23, 2014. Jimmy Z was very pleased about this and so was I.

Our life together, I believe, was a gift to me from our Heavenly Father. I feel honored and privileged to have been married to Jimmy

Z for over 41 years.

Jimmy Z passed away on Monday, July 7, 2014 in our home, 2141 Skyline Drive, Canyon Lake, TX. He passed away during the night in his sleep and went very peacefully. He is survived by his wife, Yolanda Zahorik and one brother, Charles J. (Johnny) Zahorik, and many nieces and nephews and many great nieces and great nephews.

Jimmy Z was so many things to so many people, both family and friends. He was one of a kind; a gentle, considerate, tender hearted and never had a harsh word to say about anyone. Jimmy was a mentor, and a Father to many. Jimmy Z will never be forgotten, by me or anyone else that was touched by him.

My husband, always an encourager was a brave soldier to the very end. He made me the person I am today and for that, I say “thank you”. So, my beloved husband, soar with the angels and I know without a doubt that we will see each other again in Heaven. I look forward to that day!