William Joseph Zeis

William Joseph Zeis, 92, of Columbus, NJ, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2025. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, professor, and friend, Bill lived a life rooted in faith, family, and education.
Born in Trenton to Karl and Mary Zeis, Bill was a proud 1951 graduate of Trenton Catholic Boys High School. A three-sport athlete for the Golden Wave, he was named to both the All-State Parochial and All-City football teams. He earned his bachelor's degree from St. Bonaventure University, where he was Cadet Colonel of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and a catcher on the baseball team. He received the Ideal Bonaventure Man Award and also earned medals for Outstanding Graduate in Theology and Military Science, as well as the award for General Excellence in the Business Curriculum. He fulfilled his ROTC commitment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. Bill went on to complete graduate studies in economics at the University of Notre Dame and Rutgers University. He also studied as a seminarian at Immaculate Conception Seminary and Belmont Abbey College. His passion for athletics continued as he became the first athletic director and varsity football coach at Saint Anthony's High School in Trenton. Bill later joined the founding faculty of Bucks County Community College, where he served for 38 committed and fulfilling years as a Professor of Economics.
A devout Roman Catholic, Bill's life was guided by his deep faith. He was a devoted fan of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and especially cherished his summer vacations in Surf City, NJ, where he created lasting memories with family and friends. His treasured Trenton Catholic friendships were nurtured by decades of "Thursday Night Choir Practice" at Tony Call's, a legendary downtown Trenton watering hole.
A humble, quiet, and introspective man, Bill listened with care and offered steady, thoughtful advice when sought. A voracious reader and lifelong learner, he also had a wonderful sense of humor, combining dry wit with a fondness for boyish, lighthearted jokes and teasing. Bill found joy in life's simple pleasures: sitting outside on a sunny afternoon, savoring a Manhattan made by his dear friend Bob, or enjoying a scoop of rum raisin ice cream. Bill met the love of his life, Penny, on a blind date in 1963, and together they shared 61 years of marriage. Their mutual devotion and commitment to one another were a true example to all who knew them.
He is survived by Penny and their two daughters: Susan Zeis McKee and her husband, Bill, of Oradell, NJ, and Christine Zeis of Sugar Hill, GA. He was the proud grandfather of Maggie and her husband, Nick; Billy; Jack; Carrie; Nathan; Marley; and Annabelle. He is also survived by his cherished nieces, Cathy Mundry and her husband, Tom, and Patty Wieleszko and her husband, Joseph, as well as his dear in-laws, Christopher Rankin and his wife, Ellen, and David Rankin.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 3816 East State Street Extension, Hamilton, NJ 08619.
Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill's memory to Little Sisters of the Poor by visiting https://littlesistersofthepoor.org/donate/ or to St. Bonaventure University by visiting https://www.sbu.edu/.