Michael Joseph Zilka Jr.

Michael Joseph Zilka, Jr, 33, of Chippewa Township, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Michael was born August 31, 1987 in Pittsburgh, son of Denise (Lehr) Wood and Michael Joseph Zilka, Sr. Michael was most recently employed as a member of the kitchen staff at Mario’s Dockside Restaurant, Bridgewater.

In his early years, Michael played Little League Baseball in South Beaver Township and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing local rivers, lakes and streams, and on occasion Lake Erie. Michael was a skilled billiard player and frequented a number of pool halls throughout Beaver County as a member of a casual traveling league. He was a member of the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historic Society and the Darlington Volunteer Fire Department. He was a person of faith and member of Rock Christian Fellowship, East Rochester where devoted a number of hours serving as a volunteer with their food bank outreach ministry.

Michael was preceded in death by his grandparents: Mary Lou Lehr; Joseph Adam “Pap” Zilka; and Michael “Pap” Seaman; aunt: Pam Mashuda; and uncle: David Schliffka.

Michael is survived by his mother: Denise (Richard) Wood, Chippewa Township; father: Michael (Mary Ellen) Zilka, Sr., New Waterford, OH; grandparents: Fred W. Lehr, Bradford Woods, PA; Vera “Nonna” L. Zilka, Tarentum; five brothers: Bryan (Kelsey) Zilka, Forrest, VA; Brian Wood (Jennie), South Beaver Township; Michael Shaw (Tammera), New Waterford, OH; David (Fran) Shaw, New Waterford, OH; Matt (Danielle) Shaw, New Waterford, OH; three sisters: Valerie (Jimmy) Walker, Beaver; Nicole (J.D.) Rawding, Chippewa Township; Gretchen (Brian) Larrick, Patterson Township; nieces and nephews: Sophia, Chase, Reyna, Brynlee, Kiersten, Brooke, Natalia, Bella, Maria, Simon, Landon, Grace, Jonathan and Margaret.

Friends will be received Friday, December 18th from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at the SAUL-GABAUER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 273 Route 68, Rochester (adjacent to Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum). In order to conduct a safe visitation and practice social distancing visitors are required to wear a mask and be patiently prepared to enter the funeral home in groups of 8 to 10 persons at a time. His funeral service will be held at 12:15 p.m., outside under the portico to accommodate attendees with Pastor Todd Smith, officiating. Interment in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park will follow. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

If desired, memorial contributions may be directed to the Rock Christian Fellowship, 160 Lackock Avenue and 4th Street, Rochester, PA 15074; or to Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historic Society, 2114 Route 168, PO Box 429, West Pittsburgh, PA 16160. On line condolences may be offered at www.saul-gabauer.com