Dennis Michael Zezenski

Dennis Michael Zezenski fell asleep in death on September 14, 2025, at the age of 83. His friendly and happy disposition will be missed by many, but especially his family. He is survived by his two sons, David (wife Alison) and Dan (wife Lisa), his younger sister, Kathy Bergman (husband Danny), and younger brother, Richard Zezenski (wife Mary). He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty Ann (Ziolkowski) and his parents, John & Kathryn Zezenski.

After graduating from Reading High School, Dennis did an apprenticeship to become a machinist at Stanley G Flagg Co. He went on to work at Specialty Design & Manufacturing, then Universal Machine & Engineering, and later Can Corporation until his retirement. He was a highly skilled tool and die maker and had a reputation as a man who could fix anything.

Dennis and Betty were married on November 14, 1964, and enjoyed 59 years of happy marriage together. As parents they sacrificed themselves to do everything possible to give their sons a good life; family was especially important. They loved to travel, and as a family they visited many places such as the Canary Islands, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, and the Caribbean.

When his sons were still very young, Dennis began to take his spirituality seriously and accepted a Bible study with Jehovah's Witnesses. At the same time, he would regularly visit the Reading Public Library to research whether what he was taught by his father was rooted in truth. Both he and Betty were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses on the same day, on July 10, 1971, at Buckingham Assembly Hall.

Throughout his life Dennis was very active in his faith. He served as a congregation elder for 40 years. After his retirement in 2011 he became a full-time minister and Bible teacher and continued doing so right up until his death. He spent many hours each month in this work; it was a tremendous source of joy for him. Many of those whom Dennis assisted became his spiritual children, making changes in their lives and developing a close relationship with their Creator, Jehovah God. He also volunteered for the Patient Visitation Group (PVG), happily offering his time to visit the sick in local area hospitals. He was especially interested in encouraging the youth; his friend group included young and old alike.

In his private time, his interests were varied. New technology and the way it functions was intriguing to him; in fact, he could often be found reading scientific books that the average person might find obscure. His family was always astonished to see him going on vacation towing along books about genetics, protons and the elements of the periodic table - not the sort of books you would expect someone to read while relaxing on the beach! Eating meals together as a family was critical to him, so of course he also appreciated good food, with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs being his favorite, often calling them “gourmet”.

Dennis was a man who lived by faith and hope. He had an unforgettable bellowing laugh, constantly found humor in life, and fully intended to keep on living forever. Despite his health problems and the challenges of being over eighty years old, he still had goals and dreams. Recently he bought a banjo, deciding he wanted to learn to play; age was simply not a barrier to him. He regularly talked about getting a job again and, only a short time ago, surprised his family by going on a few job interviews. In fact, in his last conscious moments, the final word he ever spoke was “island.” No doubt he was dreaming about taking another Caribbean cruise.

We long for the day when Dennis will get resurrected under the rulership of Jesus as King of God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 6:9,10, Acts 24:15) A prophecy that describes this rulership reads, “He (Jesus) will not grow dim or be crushed until he establishes justice in the earth; And the islands keep waiting for his law.” (Isaiah 42:4) At that time Dennis will be able to enjoy eternity in good health, peace and righteousness that will reach even to the islands that he loved so much.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 2:30 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 4880 Oak Parkway, Reading PA 19606. It will also be streamed via Zoom:

Meeting ID: 552 193 226

Password: 017634