Harry Zook

Middleton - Harry David Zook, 96, died on July 4, 2012 at his home in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Harry grew up in Big Valley in central Pennsylvania. Born February 8, 1916 in Milroy, the only child of Samuel Milton and Emma (Smucker) Zook, he was raised as a member of the Amish Mennonite community in Belleville. He left his Amish roots as a teenager, graduating from Penn State University with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1938. After earning a Ph.D. in 1942, he joined the chemistry faculty at Penn State where he lived and worked for the next 40 years. He co-authored a textbook, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, in 1953. At Penn State, he served as assistant head of the Department of Chemistry, Vice-president of Research and Director of Intercollege Research Programs, and Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
Following his retirement from Penn State, Harry moved to Winter Park, Florida, where he devoted himself full-time to his interest in genealogy. He and his wife Margaret traveled throughout the US and Europe, visiting courthouses, libraries, and cemeteries. Harry's interest was tracing the descendants of 18th century Amish Zook immigrants to America and investigating their origins in Europe. His first Zug/Zuck/Zouck/Zook Genealogy was published in 1983, but he continued his research for another 25 years, publishing a revised and updated second edition in 2009, at the age of 93.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Olsen). He is survived by his children Stephen M. Zook (State College, Pennsylvania) and Terri Zook Johnson (Madison Wisconsin); his grandchildren Michael Zook, Daniel Zook, Amy Zook Castor, Jyothi Froemming, and Naveen Froemming; and his great-grandchildren Mitchell and Oleg Zook. He is also survived by his cousin Grace Weiler and long-time friends Louise Warner, Doug Zook, and Shelby Woody.
Many thanks to the wonderful people who helped to care for Harry during his final two years in Wisconsin, especially Diane, Oyuna, Dean, Jamie, and Marion of Senior Helpers; staff and neighbors at Middleton Glen; and the staff and volunteers at Agrace Hospice.
A memorial gathering to honor Harry's life will be held on July 22 at 10:00 AM at Middleton Glen, 6720 Century Ave. in Middleton, WI. Memorials can be made in his name to the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 2215 Millstream Rd., Lancaster, PA 17602, or to the charity of your choice.
We will miss his analytical and methodical intelligence, his quiet and gentle demeanor, his drive to accomplish his goals, his shy, boyish charm, and the twinkle in his blue eyes.

You can find more information about Harry and his genealogy at HarryZook.com .