John Alexander Zukas, 96, formerly of Plaistow, N.H., died Saturday, August 30, in the Baker-Katz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Elizabeth (Roselli) Zukas who died in 1975.
Born in Providence (Scranton), PA on March 8, 1918, he was the son of the late Joseph and Margaret (Veversikis) Zukas. He attended schools in Carbondale, PA and later worked a variety of jobs, including in the coal mines, to help support his mother and his siblings. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he served in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific and Solomon Islands, before being honorably discharged in December 1945. Following the war he returned to the States and briefly lived in Haverhill, before moving to Plaistow in 1950.
John was employed as a drill press and layout operator for the former Western Electric and Lucent Technologies in North Andover, MA for over thirty years, before retiring in 1980. John enjoyed traveling from coast to coast, as well as internationally; he especially loved this time spent with his family on road trips and during vacations. He will be remembered for his love of wild mushrooms, his “green thumb” (his Magnolia trees bloom from Maine throughout New Hampshire), his pride in the vegetables from his gardens and variety of trees in his yard, and for teaching each of his children to fish.
He is survived by two daughters, JoAnn Z. Nelson and her husband, Rick of Anchorage, AK and Christine M. Zukas of Belgrade, ME; two sons, Robert J. Zukas and his wife, Deborah of Plaistow, NH and Kevin R. Zukas and his wife, Danielle of Epping, NH; loving grandfather of nine grandchildren, Michael R. Wells and his wife, Patricia, Bennett Andrew Lessard, Laura M. Zukas, Brian Zukas, Nevin Alexander Lessard, Heather Zukas, Angela Zukas, Thomas Alexander Zukas and Tiffany Rose Zukas; two great-grandchildren, Austin and Liam Wells; four brothers, Anthony J. Zukas of Haverhill, Joseph Kase of Maryland, William Vincent Zukas and his wife, Jeanne of New York and George Zukas and his wife, Nelda of New York; one sister, Anne Delaney of Rhode Island; and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by five sisters, Margaret Poljanec, Helen Shevchuk, Mary Malinoski, Evelyn Kosinski and Katherine Bausmith.
His funeral service will be privately held with military honors in the Holy Angels Cemetery, Plaistow. There are no visiting hours. In memory of John, the family asks that you plant a tree or vegetable garden in his memory.