John L. Zielke

January 7, 1934  -  October 21, 2025

John L. Zielke, age 91 of Winchester, passed away on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at his residence. He was born on January 7, 1934, in Janesville, Wisconsin, to the late John and Esther (Gottschalk) Zielke. John graduated from Waterloo (Wisconsin) High School in 1952. After graduation, he joined the Air Force to become an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer. He enjoyed his travels around the world. After his Air Force career, he worked for FedEx until his retirement at Memphis. After he retired, he moved to Tims Ford Lake and enjoyed having the grandchildren during the summer…they all loved to water ski on Tims Ford Lake. John is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents; son, James; daughter, Diane; wife, Jean (Kyser) Zielke; step-son, Alan Wheeler; and sister, Norma Zielke Hollader. John is survived brother, Charles Zielke; step-children, Douglas Wheeler of Murfreesboro, Mike (Susan) Wheeler of Colorado Springs, Richard Wheller of Springfield, Missouri, and Debra (David) Wheeler Gillespie of Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Marie Zielke; son-in-law, Tommy Jackson; grandchildren, Brittany Zielke, Adrienne Griffin, Nicole (Jospeh) Caperhart, Alexandra Jackson; and great-grandchildren, Collin Griffin, Coy Caperhart, Sara Caperhart, Hiwatha Cox III, and Sabre Cox. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home with a reception to follow in the Moore-Cortner Life Celebration Center. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.