John S. Zelko

John Stanley Zelko passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. He was 90 years old. John lived in San Juan Capistrano, CA at the time of his death, as he had done since 1963. He died of the complications of old age.

John was born in Cleveland, OH on November 23, 1924 to John Stanislaus Zelko and Jennie Krajec Zelko. He grew up in Cleveland on 63rd St, attended grade school at St Vitus Parochial School, and graduated high school at Thomas Edison High School. He played baseball in high school, and won 2nd prize in the Ohio State Fair for woodworking.

John lived in Cleveland with his parents and sister until he enlisted in the Marine Corps on April 14, 1943. He was sent to southern California when Camp Lejeune was closed because of chicken pox. He took boot camp training at the Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego, where he got a medal for expert sharpshooting. He was then sent to Camp Miramar for two months, before being transferred to the Marine Corp Air Station at El Toro, CA. He volunteered for shore patrol, serving in Laguna Beach, CA during the war. He was stationed there his entire tour of duty, until honorably discharged on June 2, 1946.

During his time on shore patrol in the Marines, he often worked with the Laguna Beach Police Department. After the war was over, the chief asked him if he could stick around Laguna Beach until the chief was able to hire him. He was hired by the police department in 1946, where he worked for 38 years until he retired. During that time, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and took the lead on several divisions, including Detectives and Emergency Services, for the city.

On July 18, 1947, he married Barbara Jean Longmire, whom he met during the war. They were married at the First Christian Church in Santa Ana. When the church was torn down in the 70s, he used to tease his wife that their marriage was now void. They built a home in Laguna Canyon, and later another home in the hills of Laguna Beach. They had a daughter, Lori, as well as a daughter, Dianna, from Barbara's previous marriage.

In 1963, they bought three acres of land in San Juan Capistrano, CA, and built a house and a barn on the land. John served for 15 years as a volunteer fireman in San Juan Capistrano. John retired in 1984. His wife, Barbara, died in 1991 after a year-long illness, with John as her caregiver.

John is survived by his daughters Lori Cushenberry and Dianna Dahl, his grandchildren Miguel Munoz, Malia (Mitch) Nelson, Sean (Theresa) Cushenberry and Brandon Cushenberry, his great-grandchildren Alisha Nelson, Jade (Devin) Munoz-Cue, Caden Cushenberry and Jace Cushenberry, and his great-great-grandchildren Makaylin Nelson and Madisyn Nelson. He is pre-deceased by his great-grandson Lyle Nelson.

Services will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015, 2pm at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Dr, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.

If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please go to woundedwarriorsproject.org and click on the link on the rightthat says "Donate Now". That takes you to the donation page, and the link to make a gift in honor or memory is right at the top. Click on that to fill out an on-line donation form.

If you would prefer, you can download a form to fill out and mail in your donation.

When you fill out the on-line form, or at the bottom of the downloadable in the section "Honoree Acknowledgement Information", there is a place for you

to put in Lori Cushenberry's name C/O Pacific View Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Dr., Corona del Mar, CA 92625 so that she will receive notice of the gift on behalf of her father.