Richard E. Zelinski

Richard E. Zelinski, age 84, died Friday, December 25, 2009 in a local hospital.  He was born August 27, 1925 in Manasha, the son of Joseph and Vionette (Sensenbrenner) Zelinski.  Prior to his retirement on November 2, 1984, he had been employed by Madison General Hospital for 35 years as Supervisor of the X-Ray and Nuclear Imaging Deptartment.  Richard was a veteran of  the US  Army  having served in   France, Belgium and Germany during WW II and had awarded the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor.  He resided in Madison for 40 years and Poynette for 24 years.  He had been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Portage, the Elks, Kiwanis, President of Golden K's (Kiwanis) and a volunteer at Wisconsin DNR.  In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bird watching, wood working and reading.  He also enjoyed the beauties of the Wisconsin River everyday from his deck and giving advice. His favorite music was Big Band.   Survivors include 2 daughters: Mary (Dan) Zelinski Taylor of Forest Grove, Oregon and Carol (Jeffrey) Whitsett of Los Gatos, CA; 3 sons: John (Kathy) Zelinski of Oregon, Joseph (Lisa) Zelinski of Sun Prairie and Robert (Lucy) Zelinski of Baraboo; 10 Grandchildren: Wendy (Kurt) Vinge of Cottage Grove, Bethany Zelinski of Sauk City, Lisa (Scott) Medeiros of Los Gatos, CA, Valerie Zelinski of Beloit, Marcus Zelinski of Madison, Jackson Zelinski of Breckenridge, CO, Lynzy Wooten of Forest Grove, OR, Natasha and Tyler Rehm and Cade Zelinski all of Oregon, WI; 5 great grandchildren: Garret and Kelsie Vinge of Cottage Grove, John Ries  and Jacob Zelinski both of Sauk City and Atticus Rehm of Oregon; 5 nieces, 2 ephews; a brother Robert (Bonnie) Zelinski of FL and a sister Carol Ann Fisher of Menasha.   Services will be held 4:00 pm Sunday, December 27 at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME where friends may call from 3:00 pm until time of service.  Father Roger Nilles will officiate and burial will take place at a later date at St. Mary's Cemetery in Menasha.  The family invites everyone to Erin's Snug Irish Pub and Restaurant, 4601 American Parkway, in Madison following the service.   Dad and Grandpa Dick: Thank you for the stories you shared, the jokes you told, the advice you offered and the love you gave us all.  The memories will live on in our hearts.  We will miss you, but we will carry you with us and look forward to seeing you again.
                                    Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
                                        3325 E. Washington Avenue
                                                (608) 249-6666