I have just finished making phone calls informing the family of the death of my stepfather. I was an adult when he married my mother, but I loved him very much. He was a wonderful man.
Although he was a faithful JW, for his entire life (he was born to it) he was a really good man, and a true Christian, I believe. He has been suffering with dementia for several years, but it only made him more sweet most of the time, and only when he became violent was it necessary to put him in a home, this past June. He also had cancer, which took his life ultimately, today.
His name is Henry Zinser, and he was a pioneer (colporteur) from the age of about 14. He was a graduate of the 2nd class of Gilead, and served in The Netherlands after WW2, as the Zone overseer (now called Branch coordinator, I think.) When he came back to the United States, he was a Circuit Overseer in Canada, briefly, and then in Missouri. He and his first wife studied with my parents in 1949 and 1950, when he was the City Overseer in Seattle Washington. When my parents divorced, they found each other, and were married in 1969, and had all those years together. He was very much loved for his intelligence, and his compassion. He had a wonderful twinkle in his eye, and loved a funny story, and often told them himself.
He was a landscaping contractor for many years, after he was not in the full time work any more. When he retired, he continued to work in my yard. My yard will never be the same. He lovingly made it look like a park, every Spring and Summer, until this year, when he could no longer do the physical work. He even made dirt look beautiful.
My children will miss their Grandpa Henry. And I will too. He was 86.
Marilyn (a.k.a. Mulan)