Steve J Zatko, Sr.

Mr. Steve J. Zatko, Sr., 76, died Tuesday, January 25, 2022, in his home, surrounded by the love and care of his family.

Family and friends are invited to the memorial visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Thursday, February 3^rd. from 4:00-7:00PM.  The cremation in Rosehill Crematory in Linden was private and the future inurnment of Mr. Zatko’s cremains in the family niche will be private for the family only.  The family asks that you please omit flowers and any donations in Mr. Zatko’s memory can be made to the Dingman Volunteer Fire Department, 680 Log Tavern Road, Milford, Pennsylvania 18337.

Mr. Zatko, the son of the late Irene Illengsworth Zatko and the late Steve Zatko, was born In Newark, New Jersey.  He lived in Hillside, New Jersey from 1966 to 1977, followed by a thirty-year residence in Elizabeth, New Jersey before settling in Milford, Pennsylvania in 2003.

Mr. Zatko started his work career as an electrician at Newark State College, now known as Kean University, in Union from 1968 to 1977.  From that point, he was hired as the Director of Facilities for the South Plainfield Board of Education where he worked for a few years.  Mr. Zatko then continued in the same position, but this time for the Westfield Board of Education where he remained for over twenty-five years until he earned his retirement in 2005. 

Mr. Zatko served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, and he did two tours of duty as an air crewman.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 139, Milford, Pennsylvania and locally, he belonged to the Atlas Pythagoras Masonic Lodge #10 F&AM of Westfield and additionally he was a past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star of New Jersey.

Mr. Zatko had many lifelong hobbies.  He was a ham radio operator and an avid fisherman, both fresh and salt water and he was known to build and decorate fishing poles.  Mr. Zatko loved hunting and was an NRA certified gun instructor who taught at the local range.  He was a constant tinkerer and fixer; he was known to be able to fix any watch or clock that needed repairs.  Mr. Zatko was a very knowledgeable man with many skills and talents!

Mr. Zatko is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Patricia K. Andrews Zatko; his son Steve J. Zatko, Jr. and his wife, Stella; his daughter, Katherine Anderson and her husband, Robert and his four grandchildren, Veronica Zatko, Gabriella Zatko, Daniel Zatko and Victoria Zatko.

Mr. Zatko was famous for his stubbornness, his work ethic, and his determination.  He had an abundance of love for his family and his friends and there is no doubt that he will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

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