Dr. Donald Warren Zahnke

1923 - 2024

Donald Warren Zahnke, D.D.S. (100) of Wethersfield Connecticut, beloved husband of Martha Moody Zahnke for 65 years, died Saturday, January 13 at his home in Acworth, Georgia.

Dr. Zahnke, son of Gertrude Johnson Zahnke and G. Theodore Zahnke, was born on July 18, 1923 in Bristol Connecticut. He graduated from Bristol High School where he was an Eagle Scout, from Bowdoin College with a BA degree and from Temple University Dental School where he received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Dr. Zahnke served for three years during WWII as a naval radio operator on the USS Matthew P. Deady in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He received a Bronze Star for his heroic combat service in November 1944 when his ship was repeatedly attacked by Japanese suicide bombers off the coast of Leyte, Philippine Islands. During the Korean War he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Dental Corps. Upon completing his military service in 1953, he returned to Wethersfield and established a dental practice where he served the community for 42 years.

He was a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, the Hartford Dental Society, American Dental Association, the Wethersfield Country Club, Connecticut Seniors Golf Association, a former member of the Greater Hartford Jaycees and the Wethersfield Civitan Club. During his retirement he enjoyed golf, duplicate bridge, traveling, opera and his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Donald is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Deborah Zahnke Maier and her husband George and Leslie Zahnke Carroll, one granddaughter, Elizabeth Maier, two grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law, Brian Maier and his wife Kaia and Roger Carroll, one great granddaughter, Maeve Maier and one great grandson, Rowan Maier. He is preceded in death by his two sisters Lois Zahnke Wagennecht and Marlene Zahnke Hoerle and a grandson, Thomas Warren Carroll.

A Celebration of Life gathering is planned soon.