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IN MEMORY

Peter Zielenski - Class Of 1957

Peter Thorp Zielenski (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army - Retired) passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, in Tulsa, OK.  Peter is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ellen (Heide) Zielenski of Tulsa; his four children:  Kevin Zielenski (Bardinia) of Colorado Springs, CO, Kendra Zielenski of Fredericksburg, VA, Karen Bruns (Philip) of Tulsa, and Keith Zielenski of Rockville Centre, NY.  Peter is also survived by ten grandchildren: Christopher Zielenski, Brian Zielenski, Jonathan Soma, David Soma, Lauren Holstein, Amie Holstein, Matthew Bruns, Allison Bruns, Thorp Zielenski and Antoinette Zielenski, as well as three great-grandchildren.  Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Zielenski and Frances Zielenski.  

Born in Kenosha, WI, on May 10, 1939, he grew up as a fan of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs.  He excelled in high school (Mary D. Bradford High School) and college as a cross-country and long-distance runner, setting multiple state records in high school and attending the University of Wisconsin on a track scholarship.

He began his military career while a senior in high school by joining the Wisconsin Army National Guard to avoid the draft.  He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the National Guard at the end of his junior year in college, graduating in June of 1961.  The Wisconsin 32nd Infantry Division was mobilized in response to the Berlin Crisis in September 1961.  Peter was deployed to Fort Lewis, WA where, within 10 days of arrival, he received orders for Fort Sill, OK, and the Basic Artillery Officers Course.  Upon his return to Fort Lewis, Peter decided to apply for extended active duty, was accepted, and assigned to the Regular Army 4th Infantry Division, also stationed at Fort Lewis.

It was while stationed at Fort Lewis that Peter met the love of his life, Ellen Jean Heide.  They married on March 5, 1964, less than four months after their first date, with Peter adopting her two children from a prior marriage (Kevin and Kendra).  Shortly after tying the knot, Peter was assigned his first tour of duty in Vietnam, 1964-1965, as an advisor to the 5th ARVN Division.  Upon returning to the States, Peter and family began their nomadic lifestyle common among servicemen and their families.  Over the next two years, Peter spent time stationed first in Fort Bliss, TX for Air Defense Artillery training, followed by an assignment to the 50th Artillery Group (AD), in Snelling AFS, MN, with duty station in remote Finland, MN.  Peter was subsequently promoted to Commander, A Battery, 3rd Missile Battalion 68th ADA, Roberts, Wisconsin. It was while stationed in Wisconsin that Peter and Ellen welcomed a baby girl to the world (Karen, in May 1967).

Peter's second Pacific Theater assignment was two years in Okinawa, 1967-1969 as an intelligence staff officer serving as the Special Security Officer (SSO).  The time in Okinawa saw the arrival of a baby boy (Keith, October 1969).  The Okinawa assignment was followed by Peter's second tour of duty in Vietnam, 1970-1971, as a Major in the First Brigade 6th US Infantry Division.

Back in the States, Peter was Instructor & Branch Chief at the Fort Sill, OK Field Artillery School (1971-1974); Army Readiness Region supporting the National Guard and Army Reserve in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois while stationed at Fort Sheridan, IL (1974-1978); US INSCOM, Arlington, VA at Arlington Hall Station, the Army Training Study (ARTS), Fort Belvoir, VA (1978-1981).

Peter and family spent six years in Germany, a country they grew to love as their own with Peter receiving two assignments:  initially as AFS COORD, VII Corps, in Stuttgart, Germany (1981-1983) and then as 59th Ordnance Brigade Inspector General, Germany, while he and family lived in picturesque Ruppertsweiler, Germany (1983-1987).

Peter's final stateside assignment was in the Assistance Division, Department of Army Inspector General's Office, Pentagon, Washington, DC (1987-1989).  Peter retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel with a myriad of achievements, honors, and awards, including the Legion of Merit, awarded for exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

Following his retirement from the Army, Peter worked at Titan Corporation until he retired in 2004.  Peter and Ellen relocated to New Braunfels, TX in 2004 before moving to Tulsa, OK in 2017.

Family memories of Peter run the gamut from him teaching his children how to fish, playing catch, participating in Boy Scout activities, coaching soccer, family trips to Disneyland/Disneyworld, Chicago Cubs games, downhill and cross-country skiing, Volksmarches, family trips to the Bahamas, attending the annual New Braunfels Wurstfest, and some amazing long-distance road trips in the family station wagon.

Peter was also a lifelong animal lover.  While keeping track of four kids, there were also four-legged family members in tow.  It was cats in the early years but once the kids convinced him and Ellen that they needed a dog, there was always one included in the family.  He especially loved their Rottweilers:  Isis and Tara.  He is survived by Toby, their dog for the last 16 years.

Peter will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He will be remembered for both his love and devotion to his family and his country.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Coffee Bunker, 6365 E 41st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135 or online at coffeebunker.org.

A service is scheduled for September 2, 2023 at 1:00PM at Stanley's, 3959 E 31st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135.  If you are planning to attend, add a splash of red to your wardrobe, Peter's favorite color!
 

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Stanleys Funeral & Cremation Service on August 17, 2023.

 



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