ForeverMissed
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John Louis Zerkel Jr., known to most as “Johnny” or “Little John”, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Englewood, Ohio, on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the age of 58. 

He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Carolyn L. Zerkel (O’Grady), and an older infant sister. He leaves behind his only child and beloved daughter, Shannon (Shanun) Miller, adoring grandson Miles Stone, devoted father John L. Zerkel Sr., sisters Teresa Zerkel and Sharon (Rob) Hampton, numerous nieces and nephews, longtime companion Donna Gibson, and her children Dallis and Gabbrielle Howell. John was a great lover of history, dogs, nature, cooking, and his family. He was deeply loved by many and will be greatly missed. 

A memorial gathering will be held at the Roundhouse at the Tipp City Park on Saturday, September 22, 2018, from 1-4PM.

Professional arrangements entrusted to W.E. Lusain Funeral Home.

June 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
Dear John,
Another year has gone by and I hope you are extremely happy and at peace. I will forever and always love you. I will never forget you and I hope you are looking down on me and watching over me. I have always known you loved me with everything you had. I will always wonder what could have been. You will never be forgotten. I love you and will see you again one day. Love, Lynn
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2022
John another year has passed and I hope and pray that you have truly found your peace and are happy. Still think of you so much. I will never be over you no matter what. I will always love you and still wish things could have been different. I think you loved me right up until the end. Until I see you again, I love you and be happy.

Love,
Lynn
March 11, 2022
March 11, 2022
Happy Birthday in heaven John. I so hope you are happy and at peace. I miss you dearly and always will. I love you so and I will see you again someday. You were my soulmate.

Love,
Lynn
July 1, 2021
July 1, 2021
Dear John,
I didn't forget you yesterday, just had to decide what I wanted to say. I believe in my heart that you loved me until the day you went away for good. I know I loved you and always will. I just wish things could have been different so that we could have stayed together. I will love you always and forever. Happy Birthday in heaven.

                                                           Love,
                                                           Lynn
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2021
Dad,
Today it's been 3 years and it seems like I miss you more and more each year. I wish you were here to see Miles grow up. You would be so proud of how smart, kind, and funny he is.

I just returned from a trip to the beautiful Zion National Park in Utah and left a little bit of you there. Enjoy the view. :) Miles and I love and miss you very much. <3
July 1, 2020
July 1, 2020
Dear John in Heaven,
I hope you are watching over me and that you know I never stopped loving you. I still wonder to this day what if? You are in my heart forever. You were and always will be the love of my life. I know you are at peace now and are very happy. Until I see you again, hold on to the love we had.

Love, Lynn
March 12, 2020
March 12, 2020
You would have turned 60 yesterday. Happy birthday Dad. Miles and I love and miss you every day. Always wishing you were here.
March 11, 2020
March 11, 2020
Dear John,
Just wanted to wish you happy birthday in heaven. I know you are at peace and with your mom, that's the only thing that makes this bearable. I love you and always will. I hope you are watching over me, I sure could use it.
June 30, 2019
June 30, 2019
Well John it has been a year already, doesn't seem possible. Unlike all the previous years, my heart hurts in a different way. I always say a prayer for you and hope that you are at peace and with your Mother. I will always think of what might have been or could have been. If only there had been a way to do things differently. You will forever and always have a place in my heart, that has never changed. You have a beautiful daughter and grandson to carry on for you. You will always be the love of my life.
September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018
John, I was captivated with you the minute you came bouncing through the door that night, not even knowing who you were related to. I fell deeply in love with you. I know you loved me too. I will always know how much you loved me. I thank you for making me your wife and sharing your family with me. I knew from the beginning how very important your daughter was to you and your family. I loved your daughter and your family dearly. I never stopped loving you or them. You will always have a special place in my heart as they will too. Your mom wrote me a letter  thanking me for coming into your life, I will always cherish that, there is so much more I would love to say, but it would take forever. Just know I thank you for the good times and I will always have those memories of how special you were in your own way. Thank you for everything. Know you will always be loved and remembered. I know you are at peace now. I pray for your daughter and the rest of your family to find peace with your being gone and get through this. Just knowing you are at peace now makes this a little more bearable. My heart sincerely goes out to all of your family. I never stopped loving or caring about you. I remember what you always told me, Desperado by the Eagles. Consider it done, the last thing I could do for you.
August 15, 2018
August 15, 2018
John my love,
       THE MOMENT THAT YOU LEFT ME 
            My heart split in two.
One side filled with memories , 
the other side died with you.
I often lay awake at night
when the world is fast asleep,
And take a trip down memory lane
With tears upon my cheeks.
Remembering you is easy, I do it everyday.
But missing you is a heartache
That never goes away .
I hold you tightly within my heart and
There you will remain.
See life has to go on without you
But it will never be the same.
I love and miss you John you was my whole world and to me I feel like my whole world has just been ripped away from me and I feel so alone and lost without you,
Your the one that picked me up when I thought the worst, your the one that comforted me when I thought it was the end of the world when everyone and everything seemed to be falling apart.
And you are the one that actually believed in me in everything that I did, you would always say “Babe you got this” and the words you would say “ always remember your my better half “
And your the one that loved me for who I am, not what others wanted me to be...
You loved me unconditionally and I will forever hold you in my heart.
We had the best 16 years together and we were supposed to grow old together like we talked about so many times, but God needed you more and I can except that.
Miss and love you now and forever always
See you when its my time.
            Love always and forever
                Your better half
                    Donna
August 5, 2018
August 5, 2018
Dearest John, Sharon and Theresa,
So sorry to you John and your family! It is so difficult to lose a son/brother at such a young age. Johnny was always so sweet to me and I loved him! Johnny has met the All Merciful God.
John, Don and I are here for you if you need anything. We love you all.
Don and Sandy
August 1, 2018
August 1, 2018
Daddy, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you in my life. You taught me how to be myself with no apologies, how to be strong against adversity and how to love even when it’s hard. You stood by me, always supporting my decisions, telling me how proud you were every step of the way, and loved me no matter what. And like the card that I gave you almost 20 years ago says, which you still carried around in your wallet, I.O.U. a lifetime of thanks. Miles and I will always love you and will forever keep your memory alive.
August 1, 2018
August 1, 2018
Thank you John for the many years together and for the blessing of Shannon and Miles. Without you I would have neither. I pray you are at peace. You will always be remembered and loved.

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June 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
Dear John,
Another year has gone by and I hope you are extremely happy and at peace. I will forever and always love you. I will never forget you and I hope you are looking down on me and watching over me. I have always known you loved me with everything you had. I will always wonder what could have been. You will never be forgotten. I love you and will see you again one day. Love, Lynn
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2022
John another year has passed and I hope and pray that you have truly found your peace and are happy. Still think of you so much. I will never be over you no matter what. I will always love you and still wish things could have been different. I think you loved me right up until the end. Until I see you again, I love you and be happy.

Love,
Lynn
March 11, 2022
March 11, 2022
Happy Birthday in heaven John. I so hope you are happy and at peace. I miss you dearly and always will. I love you so and I will see you again someday. You were my soulmate.

Love,
Lynn
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