Richard A. Zahn

Richard A. Zahn, 87, of Bucyrus, died Sunday, April 13, 2014 at Altercare of Bucyrus.

He was born September 14, 1926 in Bucyrus to the late Arthur and Celeste (Mollencopf) Zahn. Dick, or Chester as he was known by fellow classmates, was a 1944 graduate of Bucyrus High School. The next year, on February 2, 1945 he was drafted to serve in the US Army where he was stationed in Okinawa. Dick returned to Bucyrus and was introduced to Jean Cheesman by her friend, who worked at the Sandwich Shoppe. The couple connected and on October 15, 1949 they were married.

Dick had a dream of working as a plumber but early in life, the opportunity wasn’t there; so he worked at the Farm Bureau as a manager of the mill for a few years until he was hired by Eddie Hancock to work plumbing. He next worked for Dale Welling before being hired by Holtshouse Plumbing where he eventually bought in and formed Holtshouse and Zahn Plumbing. Dick’s strong work ethic and perfectionistic attitude helped build a solid business which he sold in 1988 and is now known as Kinn Bros. He ultimately retired in 1992 although he was always there to help a neighbor in a pinch following his retirement.

Dick was a very religious man and was a lifelong member of St. John’s UCC where he sang with the choir, was a Sunday School Superintendent and served as vice president of the Consistory. Other memberships include American Legion Post 181, Michigan Phonograph Society, Bucyrus Historical Society where he served as vice president and was also the vice president of the Bratwurst Festival Board of Directors. He was named the Bucyrus Citizen of the Year in 2011 and loved meeting every morning with his fellow Rusty Zippers.

Dick was a man who spoke his mind, yet he was loving and caring. He enjoyed watching all of his family participate in their sporting activities through the years and, in general, he liked watching sports. He loved raising roses which won him many prizes at the county fair, he collected and worked on phonographs and every home he lived in had at least one lily pond.

In addition to Jean, his wife of nearly 65 years, Dick is survived by a son, Mike (Sharon) Zahn of Bucyrus; two grandchildren, Kirsten (Brad) Jordan of Marion and Nathan (Chaya) Zahn of Arlington, Va. and three great grandchildren, Olivia, Kathryn and Colin Jordan.

Friends may call from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, April 16 at St. John’s UCC, 120 S. Lane St., Bucyrus where the funeral service will begin that morning at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Steven Voelker and Rev. James Barkenquast officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery where full military rites will be provided by American Legion Post 181 and US Army Honor Guards.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus Historical Society, Gifts for Yanks or a charity of the donor’s choice through Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus or given the morning of the service.



Visitation:

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 9-11 a.m.

St. John's UCC,120 S. Lane St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:00 a.m.

St. John's UCC, 120 S. Lane Street, Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery, 835 Kaler Ave., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820