John Steven Zaninovich

1923 - 2007

Memorial services for John Steven Zaninovich will be held at St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church on Monday morning, August 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. John Steven Zaninovich, a pioneer of the San Joaquin Valley Grape Industry, passed away August 4, 2007 at the age of 84. "Big John" as he was known to his friends and employees, was born May 28, 1923 in the village of Vela Grobje, Island of Hvar, Croatia, to Nikola and Katica Tudor Zaninovich. Joining his older brother, Visko and his sister, Lucia and soon to be joined by his younger sister, Tonina and brother, Marinko. In 1939, at the outbreak of the European conflict, soon to become WWII, John replaced his brother on the last boat to leave his country with immigrants destined for the U.S.A. Accompanied by his school friend, Visko Hure, John-at 16 years old-who spoke no English, endured a long and uncertain voyage. When he saw the Statue of Liberty he knew he had made it. After a 7 day internment at Ellis Island in New York, his sponsor, Mary Slavich picked him up. She took him to buy a new suit of clothes, showed him the Empire State Building, bought him a stick of salami, two loaves of bread, then took him to Grand Central train station and told him, "There's water on the train, you're going to Fresno." Thus began John's life in his new Country as well as his six-decade work career in the grape industry. John met and married Nadine Daniels from Delano where they finally settled and had four children, Katina, Rebecca, Nikola and Tonya. He was preceded in death by his wife Nadine and daughter Rebecca. He leaves behind six grandchildren and three great grandchildren and his two sisters and one brother in Croatia. John maintained a 55-year membership with the Delano Elks Club and a 15-year membership with the Rotary Club East. He was appointed twice to serve on the Kern County Grand Jury. Big John's career accomplishments were many. His uncanny ability to apply new techniques with old school farming procedures to produce "volume with quality" made him highly regarded and respected by his peers in the grape industry where he was involved with some of the largest agricultural and grape development projects in the world at that time. "Big John" was a "man's man", a great loving father and mentor with an enormous heart. He leaves no enemies behind, only fond memories for all to keep and endear, for Dad will always be our hero! Blessed be the Lord, Amen! For additional service or floral delivery information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200. John Steven Zaninovich May 28, 1923 - Aug. 4, 2007 Basham Funeral Care