Paul Zerlan

Paul Zerlan

Paul Zerlan, age 96, passed away Jan. 20, 2015, at the Terraces of Phoenix, Ariz., where he lived since 2008.

Mr. Zerlan is survived by his wife, Helen (Taras); his son, Dennis P. Zerlan of Fort Collins, Colo.; and his daughter, Dawne H. Bode of Paradise Valley, Ariz. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Joshua R. Zerlan, Travis Z. Bode, Dalton T. Zerlan, Natasha T. (Bode) Temple and Chase G. Bode; a great-grandchild, Cora B. Temple; and a niece and nephew, Mary Zerlan and Mark Zerlan.

His parents and his only sibling, Rudy (Rudolph) preceded him in death.

Born and raised in Granite City, Ill., the son of Paul and Mary (Schwab) Zerlan, he was a lifelong resident of Granite City before moving to Phoenix. He graduated from Granite City High School, spending his early years, and until several years after the military, in Lincoln Place, ostensibly "the wrong side of the tracks." It was during this time that he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Helen, marrying her in May 1943. He experienced the Great Depression, worked for the CCC, and in 1943 volunteered for the army, and then for paratrooper training, because he wanted "something different." He definitely got something different. Graduating from paratrooper school, he fought in the European Theater, making two combat jumps - one at the Battle of the Bulge - and received the Bronze Medal. Although reluctant to talk about his combat experiences, the few stories he told, usually over a beer or three, were electrifying, emotional and poignant. After VE Day, he was on his way by ship to the Pacific Theater, where, when entering the Panama Canal, they learned of the Japanese surrender. They were going back home; Paul was going back to Helen!

Returning to Granite, he worked briefly for Curtiss-Wright and Anheuser Busch, finally making a career at the Shell Woodriver Oil Refinery, retiring in 1985. He left Lincoln Place in the early 1950s, where on Michigan Avenue he and his father built the house in which Paul, Helen and the kids lived. During this time he tried, with much frustration, yet patience and perseverance, to teach his son different sports: Paul was right-handed, his son left-handed, thus exhausting Paul's quietude, to end up with a son who only batted right-handed, yet continued to do everything else with that darn left hand. He did not leave Dawne out from his coaching regimen, military fitness being in his blood. He insisted she balance her much preferred high school academics with some exercise. He would regularly "escort" her to the high school track field to run laps, and she did so with tears of displeasure and indignation. Happily, in this undertaking, he had grand success, for years later Paul saw Dawne in eight marathons and qualifying for, and completing, the Boston Marathon.

Paul was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, took pleasure in gardening and relished fishing, especially with his brothers-in-law, Frank Taras, Chuck Taras, and Marc Crisman and his nephew, John Doniff. His fishing buddies knew him well for catching few fish, telling feeble jokes and faithfully bringing copious supplies of his much favored Nilla wafers. In April 2008, he and Helen reluctantly, but with prescience, decided to leave their home of over 50 years for Phoenix to live nearer their daughter. While there, although leaving behind 89 years of memories, missing his many relatives and friends, he found joy in not shoveling snow, delight in the activities and the pleasure of close proximity to his daughter.

Six words sum up Mr. Zerlan's death: Another passing of the "Greatest Generation".

Funeral: A small service was held at the Terraces on Jan. 29, 2015. Interment will be at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Edwardsville, Ill., on a date yet to be decided.