Obituary of Frank Joseph Zeman

ASHTABULA – Frank Joseph Zeman, Jr., 85, of East 21st St. died Saturday, December 25, 2021 at Carington Park. He was born January 30, 1936 in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, the son of Frank Joseph Sr. and Florence (Wicker) Zeman and had been an area resident most of his life. A 1954 graduate of New Lyme Deming High School, Frank was a basketball standout scoring 1,338 points, the fourth-highest total in Ashtabula County history which earned him an induction into the Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Hall of Fame along with his good friend and teamate Richie Scribben. Significant in this accomplishment was that it was done in 3 years, while many other athletes accumulated their totals over a four year career. In 1952-53, Zeman led the county in scoring with 267 points in 10 league games, a 26.7 average. He also enjoyed a great high school career in track and baseball. When he graduated from Deming, he had a football scholarship at Kent State promised, though he had played football only as a freshman, at Jefferson. Notre Dame was also interested in him for football. In January 1955, Zeman entered the Army and was assigned to be a guard on the border patrol on the borderline of East and West Germany, around Nuremburg. In Germany, Zeman played tackle for the U.S. Third Armored Cavalry for about four years before being honorably discharged. Prior to his retirement, he worked 31 years for Condon Brothers delivering Strohs beer, making lots of friends along the way. He was a member of the EAC, VFW, ANU, and Eagles in Ashtabula and the Hungarian Culture Club, VFW, and Eagles in Fairport Harbor. Frank will always be remembered as a hard worker and gifted athlete who made friends easily. He enjoyed time with his grandkids more than anything. His survivors include three children Pamela (Ronald Hurd) Rhoney of SC, Michael (Marybeth) Zeman of Girard, PA, and Frank (Sandy) Zeman III of Ashtabula; 13 grandchildren, Jared, Cassady, Alexa, Delaney, Jason, and Jeff Zeman, Eddie Jr. and Natasha Newell, and Rachel, Ronnie, Holly, Melodie and Ricky Rhoney; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and his sister, Rosie Gaines of Ashtabula. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Herta "Sonya" (Glasel) Zeman in 1967; his second wife, Patricia (Howland) Zeman in 1994; two children, John Zeman and Michelle Newell; and two sisters, Patricia Zeman and Kathryn Lambros; and his parents. Private services will be held. Following cremation, half of his remains will be buried with his first wife, Martha, in Riverside Cemetery, Painesville and half with second wife, Patricia, at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Ashtabula. Contributions in his memory may be made to Bella Care Hospice, 1933 State Route 45, Austinburg, Ohio 44010. www.ducro.com