Burton “Burt” Zielinski, Sr. 79, of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at Hospice Alliance Hospice House, Pleasant Prairie, WI. He was born to Cyril Edward and Ethel (Merrill) Zielinski on June 22, 1941 in Green Bay, WI.
Due to his father’s work, the family moved often while Burt was growing up. He attended many different schools until his family came to Kenosha when he was in sixth grade, and they stayed.
On September 7, 1963, at the Zion Christian Catholic Church (now called Christ Community Church) in Zion, IL, Burt was united in marriage to Janis “Jan” Magden. They were blessed with 57 years of love, kindness, raising their family and making beautiful memories together.
After four years of marriage, Burt designed and did most of the construction on their family home. They have enjoyed living in it for over 53 years. Burt was a very talented woodworker and enjoyed making things for friends and family. His latest interest included turning pens and wooden ornaments on his lathe. He also enjoyed helping his adult children, neighbors and others with some of their construction projects.
Burt became a journeyman sheet metal worker and worked for a number of companies in Kenosha. In 1980 he went to work for Abbott Laboratories. There, he worked on their HVAC systems and completed many stainless steel projects. He retired from Abbott in 1999.
Burt enjoyed traveling and also fishing. Besides traveling around the
“lower 48” states, he and Jan made many trips to Alaska for about 20 years to fish and visit with their son and his family while their son lived there. Burt also had a “green thumb.” He did all of their landscaping and also enjoyed growing flowers and plants, both outside and inside, especially orchids.
Due to COVID, Burt missed seeing the wonderful nurses and friends he had made at Froedtert Kenosha Hospital’s Cardio Rehab.
In addition to his wife Jan, Burt is survived by his son, Burton Keith Zielinski, Jr. of Milton Freewater, OR and his daughter, Laura Lee Zielinski of Kenosha, WI. He is also survived by his grandson, Gunnar Edward Zielinski of Tukwila, WA and Gunnar’s mother Nancy Stacy of Walla Walla, WA.
Burt is also survived by his brother Cyril Lee Zielinski, of Racine, WI; brother-in-law Charles Michael (Carol) Magden of Waukegan, IL; and many nieces and nephews, and also great-nieces and great-nephews.
Burt was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dennis Zielinski, sister Sandra Kotz, and half-brothers Ken and Richard Davis and half-sister Delores Davis.
Burt had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and we can picture him tending to God’s flowers in Heaven. Burt, you will be DEEPLY MISSED BUT ALWAYS REMEMBERED IN OUR HEARTS.
Our sincere thanks to Dr. Shepler and Dr. Kreager and their staffs for their many years of compassionate care. We also thank the staff at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital and Hospice Alliance Hospice House for their kindnesses and excellent care.
Due to COVID, a private memorial service will be held at a future time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Burt’s name would be appreciated to one of his favorite charities, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4-8
