Joseph D. "Joe" Zolik, 85, of Milford, DE, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2017 at Kent General Hospital in Dover, DE, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Syracuse, N.Y. on Aug. 23, 1931, to Polish immigrant parents.
Zolik was a decorated Korean War and Vietnam War veteran and retired after 23 years of service in the U.S. Air Force as a chief master-sergeant. He furthered his career with 17 years at Scott Paper Company before retiring a second time.
Zolik was involved with the United Service Organizations (USO) at Dover Air Force Base, the Red Cross, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Milford Elks Lodge. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His passions were reading and Facebook, and he could always be seen with his iPad.
He loved to discuss and debate with family members about world politics, culture and travel. He enjoyed country music, was an avid dog lover and shared many stories of his adventures in life with his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Joseph and Alexandra Zolik, he was preceded in death by his son, John; granddaughter, Allie; brothers, Mathew and Peter; and sisters, Jennie and Genevieve. He had recently celebrated 63 years of marriage with his wife Florence “Candy” Zolik, who survives him; his children, Pamela Simpson and her husband, Richard, Damian Zolik, Kathy Farrahar and her partner, Harry Parkinson, Marcy Davis and her husband, Michael, and Joel Zolik; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, Leo Zolik; a sister, Virginia Drabot; and his nieces and nephews.
Services were scheduled for March 30, 2017, at St John’s Catholic Church, Milford, Del. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Alzheimer’s Association; 108 N. Bedford St.; P.O. Box 625; Georgetown, DE 19947 or online at m.alz.org/donate.asp. Condolences may be sent online at www.melsonfuneralservices.com.