Zook, John Edward (1924-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Sep 26 p. 9

Birth date: 1924 Oct 3

text of obituary:

JOHN EDWIN ZOOK

John Edwin Zook, 84, died Aug. 14, 2009, of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in Portland, Ore. He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in Tabor, Iowa, to Abram Eyster and Eunice Brenneman Zook, who served as missionaries in South Africa and the Belgian Congo. He grew up in those countries as well as years in Nebraska and Newton, Kan.

He completed medical school in 1954, his internship in 1955 and his residency in surgery in 1969 in Portland. He was a board qualified surgeon, member of the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons.

He married Jeanne Pierson in 1952. They served as missionaries under the General Conference Mennonite Church and Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission in the Congo from 1955 to 1977. He practiced surgery in Portland from 1977 until 2002, where he also generously provided care to medically needy people. He was a gifted surgeon with a great love of people.

He and Jeanne participated in the China Educational Exchange program in 1984-88 and conducted frequent surgical visits to the Mennonite hospitals in Congo. He served as a board member of Mennonite Men and as president of the PNMC Mennonite Men for many years. He was a longtime member of Peace Mennonite Church of Portland and taught Sunday school for many years. He was deeply involved in recycling in the church’s program to support a local food bank. He will be missed by all for his warm caring spirit and his ability to share a good story. The Congolese Community of Portland also recognized him as their great friend.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Jeanne Zook; three children, Rebecca Roth of Salem, Daniel John Zook of Portland and Paul Michael Zook of Austin, Texas; two sisters, Ruth McQuilkin of Portsmouth, R.I., and Mary Ellen Schultze of Puyallup, Wash.; and 11 grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Peace Mennonite Church. Burial was in Forrester Cemetery in Estacada.