Ronald John Zirker

Ronald John Zirker was born on June 13th, 1935 to John Eugene Zirker and Pearl Wall in Roosevelt, Utah. He died on July 18, 2009 of Myelodysplastic Syndrome in South Jordan Utah. He is survived by his wife Sherri Lana Magnusson, his children Katherine Anne Zirker Hawkins, Carolyn Ruth Zirker Cheney, David John Zirker, Connie Suzanne Zirker Curran, Steven Robert Zirker, 27 children and 6 great grandchildren. EDUCATION: Ron received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Biological Sciences from BYU in Provo, Utah with a teaching certificate. Additionally he did coursework at the School of the Americas in Mexico City in 1964, Earned his Masters Degree in Education, certifying as a School Psychologist from Ellensburg University in Washington in 1981 and earned his Doctorate in Education Administration from Northern State University in Flagstaff, Arizona. EMPLOYMENT: Ron farmed during the summer with his dad in Warden, Washington and during the winter Had his first teaching opportunity in the Warden School District after which he served as an Educational Officer in the Air Force for three years. In 1964 he taught English as a second language at the American Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. From 1967 he taught school at Frontier Junior High in Moses Lake, and at the Colombia Basin Community College. In 1970 he worked in the Special Education Department as a School Psychologist in the Moses Lake School District. He moved the family to Mexico City in 1975 to do research for his Master's Thesis. He and his wife home-schooled their five children during this time. Then in 1976 they moved to Mesa, Arizona where he worked as a school psychologist in the Mesa School District and began his studies for a doctorate. One of his projects during this time was the establishment of the School for the Deaf in Mesa. He worked fulltime in the Mesa Public Schools until his retirement in 1998. After retirement he worked as a School Psychologist in the Othello, Washington Public Schools. MILITARY SERVICE: Ron's participated in the ROTC program at BYU graduating in 1960 with his commission in the Air Force as a 2nd Lt. He entered active duty in late May of 1961, stationed in Peru, Indiana at Bunker-Hill-Air Force Base. He was later sent to Mississippi for Officer Training School, and then shipped to the Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington for his remaining year and a half, and finally honorably discharged having progressed in rank to Captain in 1964. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE: Ron was baptized at age 8 in Roosevelt, Utah attended four years of Seminary and served a full time mission to the Southern California Mission. He has served as a counselor to the Stake Mission President, early-morning Seminary teacher, Stake Young Men President, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, High Councilor, Sunday School teacher, Cub Master, and as a temple ordinance worker in the Mesa Temple.
Ron and his wife have also been BYU Education Week teachers and served together for thirteen years as BYU Admission Advisors. In the fall of 1998, plans were made for Ron and his wife to teach English as a Second Language in China at the Shandong University. At the last minute their plans shifted due to illnessa€"at which time their daughter, Carolyn, invited them to come to Sugarland, Texas to recuperate. There they were able to help the missionaries laboring in a Houston Chinese Branch to write articles on parenting in the local Chinese newspaper. In November of 2004, he and his wife received a mission call to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where they served until the spring of 2007 as Church Education Missionariesa€"teaching institute classes, and serving the needs of the LDS students attending the many Universities that surrounded the Institute. HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: Ron was raised in a rural community where he helped his dad on the farm, milking cows, riding horses, herding cattle. His best friends were his horse, his dog, and a little bummer lamb named lambkins that he raised from birth. He also lived close to his cousins: Shirley, Marilyn, Ardis, and Jackie. While in highschool he was badly hurt in school playing football, so he turned to other interests including learning to play the piano.
His own children in turn received musical training, and eventually learned to sing and play the violin together while their dad accompanied them on the piano. They performed regularly at first for the local rest home for the elderlya€"then eventually for ward and stake activities and other occasionsa€"calling themselves the "Singing Strings." The family was selected to be Washington State's Family of the Year in 1971 and joined fifty other families in Florida for the All American Family Pageanta€"placing 3rd with their music in the national talent contest. During the late 70's and early 80's, Ron wrote a parenting book for Deseret Book entitled: Parent and Teen: Teamed For Success. He also wrote several articles on strengthening the family for several periodicals including the ENSIGN.

He and his wife also co-authored a weekly newspaper columns for over fourteen years entitled, Family Forum, and Recipe for a Happy Family.
Ron enjoyed photography and through out his life he could be seen at every family gathering with a camera in his hand recording the events and the faces of those who brought him his greatest joy.
Ron's patriarchal blessing reminded him that his "mission and calling in this life," even his "chief purpose of coming into this life" was to become a father and that through fatherhood he would receive his greatest joy and glory. It was clear to all who knew him that his family - his children and grandchildren truly were his greatest joy. We hope -- dad -- that we can live to be your glory. We will miss you. We love you.