John R. Zettler

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[John R. Zettler, 89, of Tamaroa, passed away at 2:54 a.m., Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the Fair View Nursing Center in Du Quoin.

John was a farmer and had been a coal miner at Freeman Orient #6 Mine. He was of the Baptist Faith and was a member of the Perry County Farm Bureau and the American Legion.

He served as a Tec 5 in the US Army during World War II, serving in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received a Certificate Of Merit Citation from Headquarters Detachment as a truck driver delivering gasoline.

He was born Oct. 4, 1921 at Du Bois, Ill., the son of Joseph and Katherine (Bauer) Zettler.

John married Frieda P. Walters on April 12, 1943 at St. Louis, Mo. and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Tamaroa, two sons- Randy Zettler and wife Terri and Mark Zettler and wife Lisa, all of Tamaroa, two grandchildren- Joshua Zettler and wife Tara of Marion and Jessica Lore and husband Steve of Du Quoin, great grandson- Noah Zettler of Marion, several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter- Karen Faye Zettler, three brothers- George Zettler, Joe Zettler and Louie Zettler, five sisters- Anna Moore, Catherine Harris, Minnie Moore, Pauline Workman and Lizzie Zettler.

Funeral services were at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa with Joshua Zettler and Earl Smith officiating.

Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa.

Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.

Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin VFW and American Legion.

Friends may make memorials to the Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.