Jeffrey Zelinko

Jeffrey John Zelinko

Age 47 of Coal City, passed away Friday October 22, 2010 at his home.

Born September 28, 1963 in Morris, Jeff is a son of Richard and Patricia Phillips-Zelinko of Coal City. He was raised and educated in Coal City and was a graduate of Coal City High School with the Class of 1981. On September 2, 1989, Jeff married Julie Ann Foran in Castro Valley, California and together they made Coal City their home. Jeff was employed as a fabricator with Wunderlich Door Company in Joliet and was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Coal City. He was a former Cub Scout Den Leader and Cub Master of Coal City Pack 466, where he also served as a committee member. Jeff was an EMT and Fireman with the Coal City Squad and coached both Baseball and Soccer. If Jeff had a purpose, his abilities were endless in building or fabricating anything of need in his shop. He was an avid Harley rider and truly enjoyed boating, fishing and camping. He could be found in anything his children were involved, and will remembered as the "Ultimate Dad".

Survivors include his wife Julie; two children: Megan and Mitchell Zelinko, both at home; parents: Richard and Patricia Zelinko of Coal City; one sister Joanne (Mike) Morrall of Morris; his maternal grandmother Evelyn Phillips of Coal City; niece and nephew: Kyle and Kara Morrall and three uncles: Andy (Carol) Zelinko of Irvine, California, William Phillips of Orion, Illinois and Lee Collier of Carbon Hill, as well as numerous cousins.

Jeff was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather William "Bud" Phillips; paternal grandparents: Andy and Dorothy Zelinko; uncle Don Phillips and aunt Donna Collier.

Visitation and Video Tribute will be held on Monday October 25, 2010 between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block North of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City. Funeral services will follow Tuesday October 26th at 10:00AM in Assumption Catholic Church, 245 South Kankakee Street in Coal City, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Robert Noesen officiating. A memorial luncheon provided by the Martha's in the Berst Center will immediately follow the funeral services and a private family interment will be in Braceville-Gardner Cemetery.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Jeff's memory to his family for their distribution.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. (815/634-2125)