Obituary
Jack Leroy Zielke, of Portland, Oregon, passed away July 25, 2026. He was 90 years old.
Jack was born October 2, 1935, to George and Minnie Zielke in Aumsville, Oregon, growing up with three sisters and two brothers. After several years in eastern Oregon, his family eventually settled in Moses Lake, Washington where they established a farm in the Columbia Basin Project. While helping build the family farm, Jack attended Moses Lake High School, graduating in 1954. Two years later he became a letter carrier at the Moses Lake Post Office, beginning a 34 year career moving the mail. He ascended the ranks in the U.S. Postal Service to become a distribution clerk, then proudly became one of the first generation of postmasters to be hired on merit rather than politically appointed. He was the postmaster in Bridgeport, Washington from 1972-1981 and finished his postal service career in Ephrata, Washington as postmaster from 1981-1990. Afterward he spent several years as a truck driver as well as other jobs in support of agricultural pursuits. With Jack, the boy left the farm but the farm never really left the boy.
In 1957 Jack married Melba Price, beginning a marriage lasting 69 years. They became the proud parents of three boys, Steve, Ron, and Tim. While maintaining a busy life of being a husband, father, and striving for excellence in his career, he also served the Bridgeport community in the Chamber of Commerce, a volunteer fireman and EMT, and a leader of the Bridgeport High School Mustangs Booster Club. Jack was a member of the churches of Christ, including a founding member of the Moses Lake Church of Christ. He also served as an elder in the Pateros, Washington Church of Christ. During some of his retirement years, Jack and Melba packed their furniture into storage, bought an RV, and traveled throughout the United States serving in the Sojourners ministry. It was tremendously enjoyable and fulfilling for him to travel around the country and use his considerable talents as a handyman and woodworker on construction projects sponsored by local churches of Christ. He will also be remembered as a great fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners, having followed both franchises from their beginnings in the 1970’s.
Jack is survived by his wife, Melba; a younger brother Randy (Connie) Zielke; children Ron (Sally) Zielke and Tim (Stephanie) Zielke; grandchildren Kayla (David) Jones, Brooke (Ezra) Witt, Joel (Katie) Zielke, and Lana (Mark) Maehara; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Steve, in 2023.
Details concerning a celebration of life will be announced later.
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