Obituary of Kenneth P. Zeman

Kenneth P. Zeman, 88, beloved husband of Nancy, of Burnt Hills , New York, died  of pulmonary fibrosis on November 2, 2021.  Born on August 18, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of the late Mildred and Paul Zeman.

Ken attended Tilden Technical High School for Boys in Chicago, and then matriculated at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in Metallurgical Engineering.  After graduation, he joined General Electric, and soon went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, and received his Masters in Metallurgical Engineering in 1959. During his career at GE in the Gas Turbine Division, he received numerous patents, and was a mentor to many of his co-workers.

Married in 1957 to Nancy Radliff of Scotia, New York, he is survived by his three children: Cynthia Zeman of Swampscott, Massachusetts; Mark Zeman of Camillus, New York; and Gregg Zeman of Scotia, New York; and six grandchildren: Connor and Alyssa Zeman, Tiberius and Claire Weaver-Zeman, and Otto and Mary Zeman.

Ken served in  the U.S. Army Reserves 464th Engineer Battalion for six years, from 1958 to 1964,  attaining the rank of Sergeant, specializing in atomic demolition during the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

Ken was a man of few words but many deeds, and showed his love for his family, church and community by always helping to build something.  He was a perpetually curious person who enjoyed nothing more than puzzling out  problems, learning how things worked, inventing new gadgets, and implementing his ideas and plans with his hands.  Whether it was building a spiral staircase in a kitchen closet, reconstructing a windmill for his  cherished garden, desperately trying to foil squirrels from his homemade birdfeeders, or putting together self-designed toy chests for his grandchildren, he never stopped moving.  He was an excellent picklemaker, inventor, and was convinced there was an engineering solution to every  problem.

A wake will be held Sunday November 7th, at Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, Glenville from 3:30 to 6:30pm.  A funeral service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 547 Saratoga Road, Glenville, on Monday November 8th at 11 am. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery, Scotia.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to City Mission, PO Box 760 Schenectady, NY 12301, or Habitat for Humanity, 115 N. Broadway Schenectady, NY 12305, or the Black and Blue Thumb Group at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 547 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY 12302. Online condolences www.glenvillefuneralhome.com