JOHN PARK ZIPPERIAN
John Park Zipperian passed away in the early morning hours of November 8, 2018 with his loving wife of 63 years, Sherry, holding his hand.
John was the youngest of 3 children, born June 17, 1936 in Great Falls, Montana to John Henry and Marjoria Park Zipperian. The family spent some time in Butte before moving to Townsend when he was 12, where he attended and graduated from high school. John very much enjoyed playing drums and could often be found entertaining on weekends with his band at Toston and the Deep Creek Bar.
During this time he met the love of his life, Sherrill Anne Cartwright and surprised her with an engagement ring just hours before she was to deliver the valedictorian address at her high school graduation. Already nervous about the speech, Sherry was now doubly anxious and cannot remember much of the speech or ceremony. Her father told her that it was only “puppy love” and they would both get “over it.” 63 plus years later and they still aren’t “over it.”
John had many occupations in his lifetime – ranch hand, underground miner, farmer & rancher, tire shop co-owner and always kept busy doing odd jobs for extra money while raising his young family. Farming was probably his biggest passion but he always seemed to enjoy whatever he was doing at any particular point in his life. He especially enjoyed his years at the tire shop in Townsend, which gave him the opportunity to work with a couple of his sons and grandsons.
Upon retirement, John & Sherry moved full time to the family ranch at Clancy, remodeling the original ranch house into their beautiful retirement home. They spent many winters in Yuma, AZ, making countless new friends from all over the U.S. and Canada. While they haven’t been able to snowbird for a few years, many of these people still come visit them in Clancy during the summer.
John possessed a great sense of humor throughout his lifetime but it really shined in his later years, especially when interacting with members of the medical community. Doctors and nurses could often be heard laughing and joking with him whether he was in ICU or just at a regular appointment. People who got to meet him absolutely enjoyed his amiable personality.
He was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held many positions over the years. His faith was of utmost importance and guided him through many tough obstacles. Facing a host of medical issues later in life, his deep belief in God allowed him to accept each new challenge with grace and a dignity not often witnessed. Most recently he was a member of the Boulder Branch where he made many friends and relationships that he valued tremendously. He always looked forward to Sundays.
John is survived by his wife Sherry of Clancy, sons Mark (Julie) of Toston, Dan (Chris) of Townsend, Gary (Cindee) of Clancy, sister Coralie Graveley of Yuma, AZ, sister Marlene Kaiser of Orem, UT and an abundance of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. John is also survived by Bill Greany (Beth) of Phoenix, AZ whom he considered a 5th son.
He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Kenneth Zipperian, mother Marje Zipperian, father John H. Zipperian, grandson Philip Zipperian and infant grandson Claude Duncan Zipperian.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 501 N Jackson St., in Boulder. A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall of the Church. A graveside service will follow the reception at Deep Creek Cemetery in Townsend at approximately 2:30 p.m. Memorials honoring John are suggested to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation at 1-800-879-0850 or visit their website www.yellowstonefoundation.org. or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 13, 2018
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
501 N Jackson Street
Boulder, Montana 59632
Reception
Following the service
Tuesday November 13, 2018
Fellowship hall of the Chruch
501 N Jackson Street
Boulder, Montana 59632
Burial
Following the reception
Tuesday November 13, 2018
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsend, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 13, 2018
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
501 N Jackson Street
Boulder, Montana 59632
Reception
Following the service
Tuesday November 13, 2018
Fellowship hall of the Chruch
501 N Jackson Street
Boulder, Montana 59632
Burial
Following the reception
Tuesday November 13, 2018
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsend, Montana
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Marlene Z Kaiser says
John was always fun, cracking us up at the dinner table when we were young. He was someone I always looked up to even though we weren’t close after I left to go to college in California. I was his oldest sister, and we had many a squabble while doing dishes, but he got the best of me once when I was hollering at him for something when he threw the dishrag directly into my mouth. He laughed and I laughed and the argument was over. Our children and his children were often together at their Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s house in Townsend. I thought about him often and called him on most of his birthday’s to have a long talk. He was a great father, hard working and loving person. I’ll miss him and will be looking forward to seeing him again when I leave this earth.
Becky Warner says
I always loved sitting near John in Church so I could hear him sing. He had the most beautiful singing voice. He was a wonderful individual and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Dana Rauser says
Sorry for your loss, John was a good man. I haven’t seen him in awhile but always enjoyed talking with him.
Elaine May says
To a very dear friend We shall miss our visits to you and Sherry But will check o her as us al God bless all
Marlene Z Kaiser says
More thoughts. John was always full of stories to tell our cousins Johanna and Elaine Zipperian about the water wing super hero. He would tell Coralie and I these stories just before he would go in and wet his hair so it would freeze and he’d have a great hair do in the morning. He was such a big tease and lots of fun to be around as kids. He would have campouts with his friends in our yard, and they would have some great times there. He was inventive and would design all kinds of things for his room. He had an electric train that had a track that went under his bed and around the room.
When he was real little, in Great Falls, Mt. He almost died of pneumonia on Christmas Eve, and we were so scared, but he survived to play on Mom ‘s rug that had a stripe around it. He was about two and would run his cars around that stripe, making lots of car noises. I just sat and watched. Mom had cancer when John was born and was sick when we were little. Dad took care of us a lot. We had several different Nanny types that helped out before WW2. After the war started the three of us got dinner and took care of everything while Mom was packing parachutes at the East Airforce Base . We went and watched the soldiers come through Great Falls on the train, and John would wave and act up for them. We went to the movies every Saturday and John would play cowboys and Indians while watching a cowboy movie. He and his friends would be up and down and running up and down the halls. Can’t do that kind of thing as a child any more. Mom was always trying to get pictures of us and John who would do something to make them not turn our as perfect as Mom wanted. This happened to most of our pictures.
In Butte, John was Coralie’s and my hero because we lived in a catholic neighborhood, and the boys would push us off our bikes, but not if John was around. We played many games after dinner that were fun out in the street, and sometimes in the winter we would run water on a lawn and ice skate there. John was always suggesting fun things to do.
I write this about him, because I don’t think his children knew very much what he was like as a child, and life has changed so much for children that much of what we did are no longer done. The games we played with all the neighborhood children in the street and running around houses playing cowboys and Indians are no longer allowed. One Christmas we went to Great Falls to Grandma’s house which we did every Christmas, but that Christmas was special because we came back to our house in Butte, and he was so excited to see the drum set he got for Christmas. He learned to play the drums and was good at it.
When we moved to Townsend, John was still cracking us up. He loved knock knock jokes and was always pulling something on us or someone else. One time he and a friend were all dressed up going to Butte for Church Conference. The friend was driving when we had a flat. John had Coralie and I stand out by the tire while he and the other boy jumped into the barrow pit. Someone stopped and changed the tire for me and Coralie, and John jumped out of the pit and shakes their hand. He didn’t get his church clothes dirty that way. We had a big laugh over that. When I left home and went to California to college, I didn’t write to him, so I got a letter from him telling me that it was my responsibility to write to him first, but he was forgiving me and writing to me first. I have kept that letter all these years. I don’t remember if I answered it or not. I probably didn’t because I wasn’t very good at keeping a correspondence with my siblings. I should have repented long ago, and now it is too late.
John will find he has many family and friends in the hereafter and I’m sure he’ll be cracking them up too!
Elizabeth Boeshans says
My memories of Uncle John are all good. I remember being excited to go visit their home. He would be kind, accepting and would tease and joke around with us. May you rest in peace, say hi to grandma and grandpa for me. I pray the Lord will bless and comfort you Aunt Sherry and all those who are grieving along with you.
Marsha and Ron Alsbury says
We are sending our deep love and appreciation to you Sherry. We have been blessed to have known you and John.