Edward Aloysius Zientek, age 96 of Manistee, died Wednesday November 27, 2013 at Cherry Hill Haven AFC Home in Traverse City.

Ed was born January 25, 1917 in Manistee the twelfth and youngest child of Josephine (Pachesny) and John Zientek. He married Dorothy Pearl Boulee on November 20, 1944. Ed was drafted into the Army on August 14, 1945 and served as a Photographer in the Panama Canal Zone taking aerial pictures of the U.S. air strips and camouflage treatments used to hide them from the enemy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his brothers and sisters, his oldest son, Michael in 2001 at age 56, and his wife of 59 years, Dorothy, in September 2004, his sister-in-law and her husband, Maple and Earl Swank, and brother-in-law, Al Boulee.

Ed is survived by Michael’s wife, Diane; daughter, Jane Zientek; sons, Peter (Laura) Zientek, Mark Zintek, Thomas (Laurie) Zientek; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Donna Boulee, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ed lived an active life; he loved being outdoors, playing tennis, bowling, boating, playing golf, cutting wood, boiling maple syrup, fishing, camping and hunting. Years ago, he enjoyed spending time at the Spirit of the Woods Club and more recently with his buddies at the Fin and Feather Club and the Muzzleloaders Club.

Being an accomplished machinist, he worked 44 years at the Manistee Iron Works, Michigan Tool and Excello companies in varied capacities. Continually planning future projects and reading with great interest about many different subjects seemed to add to his longevity. He left us with a long list of “things yet to do” on his list. Ed was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, December 6, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Manistee with Father John McCracken, Celebrant. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Final interment will be in Grant Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ed’s name may be directed to a school in your neighborhood to support boys and girls basketball programs or to a charity of one’s choice. Please visit his personal book of memories page at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a story or photo with the family.

The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.

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