John Martin Mizenko was born December 10, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to Mary (Budz) and John Michel Mizenko.  He had an older sister Florence.  After high school, John served in the Army from August, 1955 through September, 1957.  He met Charlene Gleich at a dance and they later married on September 30, 1961.  While in Chicago, two sons, Glen John and Jeffery Gerard were born.  John worked for International Harvester in the engineering department.  In 1967, John answered an ad for a job with The Boeing Company and, sight-unseen, John and Charlene moved the family to the Seattle area and bought a house in Bellevue, Washington.  In 1970, their third son, John Charles, was born.  Also in that year, Boeing went through a devastating restructuring and John was without a job.  Thankfully, that led John to National Federation of Independent Business where he worked his way through the Sales Department to the position of Vice President.  John's role with NFIB brought John and Charlene to the San Francisco Bay area for most of the 1980's.  After John retired, though, John and Charlene couldn't resist moving back to the Seattle area where their heart and soul resided.

Living in the Pacific Northwest released John's passion for outdoor activities and the family experienced many adventures with rainy campouts and rubber rafts.  John and Charlene took up tennis and played often.  John also loved to golf and, to improve his putting, he invented a tool clled the "Caddies Council".  John also holds two patents on devices he invented while working at International Harvester.  As the boys grew up, John demonstrated his strong role as a father and role model to them.  He and Charlene were foster parents and John coached little league baseball.  He even started a worm farm in the basement and taught the boys how to work hard.

John adored the Seattle Seahawks.  When Seattle was awarded the franchise in the mid-1970's John and Charlene applied for season tickets and were successful in acquiring them starting in the Seahawks' inaugural season – 1976.  Through the good times and the bad, paper bagged fans and paper airplanes and games with no offense, John and Charlene securely held tickets for over 40 years, even during their stint in California.  John's only disappointment in the team was when, in 1975, they rejected his suggested name: The Seattle Slugs.

John and Charlene were blessed with three grandchildren, Kimberly, Nicholas and Rachel and, even though Glen and his wife Clara lived thousands of miles away, they often played babysitter for them.  John loved family reunions and sons Glen and family Jeff and his wife Brenda, and John joined John and Charlene to play outside and play scrabble inside whenever they could be together.  When together, John never missed the opportunity to take a picture of the family.

During retirement, John couldn't sit still and had many odd-jobs and entrepreneurial hobbies.  He sold truck mirrors and gave tours of Seattle's Space Needle and sports venues.  He was a cruise ship welcomer for vacationers arriving for their cruises.  In his beloved Parish, St. Joseph's of Issaquah, John was a member of the Knights of Columbus and prison ministry.  John often helped son John cut and transport firewood to earn a few bucks.  John's patriotism and deep interest in small business led him to form two organizations aimed at preserving the founding principles of our country: "Shalt Not Perish " and "The Legacy of Democracy".  John also had a penchant for history, vocabulary and famous quotes.  He treasured a letter he received from Justice Clarence Thomas that contained a hand-written note.

As John's dementia progressed, Charlene and sons worked to find the best setting for him and settled on moving John from the Seattle area to Rapid City, South Dakota, near son Jeff and his wife Brenda.  In a Memory Care facility at Peaceful Pines Senior Living Community, John made a great impression with his smile.  Charlene also moved and lived in an apartment at the same community.  There the staff grew to love John and helped him in his final days.  Despite his advanced condition, John still walked incessantly, and he'll be remembered for making laps around the memory care unit.  John's family was with him when he left to be with the Lord, and we are grateful for that.

Through his life, John was a dedicated Catholic, husband, father and role model for many.  We will all miss him but will remember all of the good times we had with him.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in John's name to one of the following:

-Wounded Warrior Project

-Alzheimer's Association

-Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church