John Ronald Zumalt

The most wonderful man I ever knew was born during the depression and grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas. He had loving parents, Cliff and Mildred, and a protective older brother Ray. He played sports with a passion. He liked basketball, football and swimming and later began working at the YMCA youth programs. He met the love of his life Mary Jane at Hutchinson High School.

He attended Hutchinson Junior College and Emporia State for several years, but dropped out to join the army during the Korean War. God’s blessing came and the Korean War ended while he was still stateside. He married my mother, in 1953, and she traveled with him while he was in the army, before he returned to college. He finished his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education at Emporia State. I appeared on the scene during this time period in Emporia and my brother, Brian, three years later in Hutchinson.

My father loved teaching and working with young people. He taught at Southeast High School until I was a sophomore at Southeast. My father, also, coached sophomore football, track, ran the high school bowling and the Letterman’s Club. I learned a lot about football plays, races, hurdles and high jumps by going to Southeast football games and track meets as I grew up. My father taught me the importance of getting an education. My father, also found the time to coach my brother’s baseball teams and participate in all our school events.

While I was in high school my father started working in the BOE purchasing department. He, also, loved his administrative jobs in purchasing, payroll and the school service center, even though the politics of it were difficult sometimes. He continued in his administration until he retired in 1991.

My father loved god and his family with a passion. He loved my mother and they celebrated their 60 year anniversary last November. He loved spending time with his three grandchildren, Tammy, Rich and Kera. He loved animals with a passion, including all the dogs and cats; I had while I was growing up. He put food out for the ducks, rabbits and squirrels almost every day. He loved taking photos of animals and flowers and visiting Missouri and Colorado on vacations.

The most wonderful man I ever knew was intelligent, kind, friendly and never knew a stranger. He loved his god and his family. He was, always there for me when I needed him. As the illness took him he was confined to bed, but through God’s grace I know that his soul will be set free through the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Through many dangers, toils and snares, he has already come. Tis grace that brought him safe thus far and grace has led him home. Cindy Schroeder

Grandpa, thank you for:

Watching all my soccer games

Bringing me care packages when I was not feeling well

Giving me and my friends rides to various places when I was little

Saying, “Hey, kiddo!” and always being excited to see me

Sharing your love of nature with trips to the Zoo, Botanica, Colorado, and the Ozarks

Sharing your love of sports

Sharing your love of pictures and photography

Sharing your love of books and reading

Passing along your clumsiness, goofiness, inattentive driving, and failure to understand English class to me and future generations

Teaching me how to shoot a basketball

Teaching me about math, money, ethics, and doing the right thing

Believing in people

Helping, talking, and listening to strangers

I will always love, remember, and miss you!

-Love, Tammy

**Thank you for sharing your memories, love, thoughts, and prayers with our family. They really mean a great deal to us during this time.**

Dear Dad:

Today we have gathered with friends and family to celebrate and thank God for the time we had together. We pray these special memories will reflect the remarkable life and soul of the man we've known as Dad and Grandpa.

Dad, I was truly blessed to be born into the loving arms of high school sweethearts. My earliest memories of our life together are of a giant pair of sunglasses you bought for me to wear when driving my foot propelled car. I carried a stuffed bunny everywhere and you gave me my first cowboy shirt. You loved to tell me about the time I rode an airplane at an amusement park decided in flight to change planes while you took pictures and held your breath. When I was very young my stuffed bunny and I climbed on top the refrigerator and watched as Mom called you home from USD #259 and frantically searched for me throughout the house.

Do you remember the Snoopy dog house we built for Happy our Beagle. We have shared so many memories like playing catch, enjoying all you can eat clam night at Howard Johnson's, eating pie at Spears and watching sports on T.V.--Go Chiefs! Do you remember the time we won the Doubles Bowling Tournament or attended the National Baseball Congress Tournament when it came to Wichita? You bought me my first set of golf clubs and paid for my golf lessons. We played golf together both at home and on vacations. You instilled in me a good work ethic. You helped me with my homework, taught me to drive a car and even helped me get my first position out of college with USD #259 Distribution Center.

Do you remember our vacations? We traveled to California, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Florida, visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Colorado and Missouri. We golfed together in Colorado and the following Missouri locations: Tan-Tar-A, Lodge of the Four Seasons, and Branson. We enjoyed Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland in California. We enjoyed Starlight Theater in Kansas City, Dinner Theater, Singing Quaker concerts at Friend's University. Do you remember Eureka Springs? We spent a lot of time in Hutchinson, Ks. visiting both sets of Grandparents. State Fair was especially fun because we got to eat Aunt Sarah's wonderful fudge!

After Gwen and I were married do you remember going to The Art Museum to view Charles Russell's Western Art. You loved John Wayne, Zane Grey novels, Louie LaMore novels and old movies--movies of any kind really. Every year we went to the Riverfest and attended the book fair, the art fair and the craft fair. Remember all our trips to the Botanical Gardens, Belle Plaines Tulip Festival, Lindsborg, Hillsboro Arts and Crafts festival and the Century II craft show? We loved to travel to Hutchinson, Kansas together stopping in Yoder for their famous pies. You loved to laugh and tease. We gave you slippers that scared Victoria, the cat, Mickey Mouse watches, Eyeore, and a dancing monkey that sang and danced the Macarana when you retired in 1991. Do you remember the Sandy Patty and Amy Grant concerts? Which concert was it that you had all of us searching for your glasses only to find them on your face? Do you remember dining at Mary Jane's tea room and staying at Indian Point in Branson. We still have the Swan Picture hanging above our fireplace.

Do you remember meeting Kera for the first time. You held her, bathed her and gave her a bottle. We sang "Old MacDonald" and "The Farmer In The Dell" while she drank her bottle at her Baptism at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Kera's first words were ball, big daddy, Jumbo for you and Crawdad for Grandpa Freytag. You never missed her special Birthday weekends in Independence. Do you remember how she tortured you reading, "Prudence and the Potty" and "Stomp" everytime you came to town? Or the time you gave her the red trike and the two of you tried to ride it together? You played Barbie's, had tea parties, played ball and hopskotch, and was forced to dress up in funny costume, hats, and boas complete with makeup and nail polish. Remember our trips to The Royal's Ballgame where Kera forced you to leave your seat and play with her in the children's playground where you watched the game on T.V?

Do you remember our trips to DeAnna Rose Farm, The Kansas City Zoo, The Sedgwick County Zoo, Powell Gardens and The Botanical Gardens? We loved watching you enter and win the Botanical Gardens photography contests. Whether we were in Wichita or Kansas City you and Kera would dive into a swimming pool and race. How many times did you crack that invisible egg on Kera's head? After Kera grew ill we spent many short trips together at Montana Mike's in Emporia. Kera has your love of art and photograpy. On one of her last Wichita trips she captured a moment you and mom were sitting on your favorite chair. We had the picture printed on canvas and gave it to you for your 60th Wedding Anniversary. While you were in the Hospital Kera was having surgery. She prayed for you everyday and wanted so to be at your side.

You got sick Dad on June 6th, 2014. One or both of us would travel to Wichita every weekend (sometimes whole weeks) to be with you only missing the dates Kera was in surgery. We prayed for you daily, held your hand and when God decided to take you home tearfully said, "good-bye---until we meet again!" While we awaited the funeral home to transport your body from hospice we noticed you had the most peaceful smile upon your face. Letting go of you was the hardest thing we've had to do yet on our life's journey. We will always remember your love of the Lord, family, friends, animals, co-workers and students. You taught us never to give up, to do our best and work hard. Both you and Mom taught us the meaning of loyalty, commitment and true love. We will miss you very much but we know that your body is at peace now. You have received your Heavenly reward. What a great reunion it will be when one day we are all together again in Heaven. We will always love you and are so very blessed to have known you as our Father and Grandfather.

May God Bless You Always, Dad!

Brian, Gwen and Kera Zumalt

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Zumalt, John R., 83, loving husband, father and grandfather of Wichita, KS passed away peacefully on Thurs. Aug. 21, 2014 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. John was born on Apr. 30, 1931 in Hutchinson, KS the son of Cliff and Mildred Zumalt. John and Mary Jane (Brown) Zumalt were united in marriage on Nov. 16, 1953 in Hutchinson. Together they celebrated 60 years of marriage. John served in the United States Army during the Korean War. John retired in 1991 from the Wichita Public School System after a dedicated career as a teacher and administrator. John enjoyed reading, bowling, photography, movies, traveling, swimming, class reunions, pets and most of all spending time with his family. John is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Clifford Raymond Zumalt. Survivors include his loving wife Mary Jane, children, Cynthia (Steven) Schroeder, Brian (Gwendolyn) Zumalt, grandchildren, Tamara and Richard Doesken and Kera Nicole Zumalt and many extended family. Visitation will be held on Thurs. Aug. 28, 2014 from 6 to 8pm with family present at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E. 13th St. N., Wichita. Funeral Services will be at 2pm on Fri. Aug. 29, 2014 at Grace Lutheran Church, 3310 E. Pawnee, Wichita. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, Wichita. Memorials have been established in his name and loving memory with the Grace Lutheran Church or the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67220. To share a memory or leave an online please visit www.mylakeviewfuneralhome.com.