John Zender, age 93 of Deming, passed away peacefully with family by his side on August 29, 2022 at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham.
He was born March 4, 1929 in Kendall to Jacob and Catherine Zender. John married Celine Waechter on November 17, 1951 in Abbotsford, BC. Baseball was an important part of John’s life. He and his eight brothers won second place in the semi-pro National Tournament in Wichita, Kansas as the Deming Loggers in 1956. John was also signed on with the New York Yankees. Along with his brothers and brothers-in-law, John co-owned Zee Brothers Logging in Deming. He was Bull of the Woods at the Deming Log Show in 2014. He enjoyed his hunting dogs and pheasant hunting with his family in Eastern Washington. A lifetime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, John was devoted to serving Christ. John’s highest priority in life was his devotion to Celine, his wife of 70 years, and his family.
John was preceded in death brothers Pete, Bernard “Bee”, Nick, Jacob, Dan “Spike”, Jim, and Dick, and his daughter-in-law, Linda Zender.
He is survived by his wife, Celine; siblings, Lawrence “Red” (Bev), Mary Williamson, and Kay (Denny) Cox; children, Dori (Ron) Moa, Pat (Pauline) Zender, Dale (Carmen) Zender, Diane (Jim) Mallahan, Perry (Karen) Zender, and Don Zender; and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.
Services will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Deming as follows: Rosary Thursday 9/1 at 6:00pm, Mass of Christian Burial Friday 9/2 at 11:00am, followed by Committal at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Sumas. Reception following back at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Whatcom Hospice House or the Deming Log Show.