Miles Zitek

CUYAHOGA FALLS -Miles Frank Zitek, age 94, died peacefully on February 11, 2010.

Miles was born on June 28, 1915 to Charles and Mary Zitek and raised with his two older sisters, Helen and Mildred, in Chicago , Illinois . As a youth he had fond memories of hunting and fishing trips with his family at Fox Lake as well as playing baseball, learning the rudiments of woodworking in shop class and playing the violin in his high-school band, which performed throughout Illinois . His easy going, optimistic temperament and generous spirit endeared him to his many friends and family throughout his life.

Drafted into the army in 1941, Miles became a photographer for the Army Air Force doing aerial mapping of the route for the Al-Can Highway on the west coast and the route for the Burma Road between India and China , as well as aerial reconnaissance over Japan and the South Pacific. After his discharge in 1945, photography remained an important part of his life with his well-worn Leica camera never far from his reach. He moved his family from Chicago to Lansing , Michigan to manage Lansing Camera and eventually settled in Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio where for many years he was the regional manager and buyer for the camera department at O'Neil's (now Macy's). He retired from the company at age 68.

Miles married Winnifred Anderson in 1942 and together they had four children. Winnifred passed away in 1975. He married Lenore Stratton in 1979 and a stepson and stepdaughter were added to his family. Lenore passed away in 2008. He often remarked how lucky he was to be able to share his life's journey with two of the world's most beautiful and remarkable women.

He remained active in his retirement years, golfing regularly with his buddies, helping with the yearly harvest of maple syrup, and exploring the back roads of Ohio with his wife. His love of woodworking continued throughout his life, as he made doll beds and toy boxes for his children and grandchildrend and beautiful furniture for his home. He became one of the founding members of the North Coast Woodturners in 1986 where he learned to make elegant, finely crafted bowls, mostly out of wood collected from local trees, exhibiting them at the Elements Gallery in Penninsula.

Miles is survived by his children, Dale Zitek (John Chapter) of Lakewood, Colorado, Marc (Chris) Zitek of Denver, Hildy (Tom) Boley of Akron and Kay (Chuck) French of Portland, Oregon; his niece Marianne (Ernst) von Meerwall of Akron; his stepchildren Bill (Dena) Stratton of Pocatello, Idaho and Sue (Mike) Lindsey of Dayton as well as grandchildren, Erik, Krista, Lindsay, Andie, Tom, Meg, Carina; stepgrandchildren, Sandy (deceased), Dawn, Jeff, Andy, Jill, and two great stepgrandchildren.

The family wishes to thank his caregivers at The Village at St. Edward whose kind support and compassionate care sustained our family over many years. We also want to thank Asera Care Hospice for their kindness and help.

A memorial service will be held at The First United Methodist Church, Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 44221 at 11:00am on Saturday, February 20, 2010. Following the service, friends and family are welcome to a light reception in the parlor adjacent to the Chapel. The final resting place following cremation will be Chestnut Hill Memorial Park in Cuyahoga Falls . In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made in Miles' name to Good Neighbors, Inc, 1910 Searl Street, P.O. Box 233 , Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio 44222 . Arrangements handled by Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.