Edwin R. Zielinski, Sr., 79, of Huntley, died peacefully on January 2, 2023, in Libertyville.
Edwin was born in Chicago on January 12, 1943, to parents Edwin and Lorraine (nee Rekowski) Zielinski. While skating at the Elm Skating Rink in Elmhurst with his sister, Christine, Edwin met Jeanette Stierle. The couple fell in love and were married on July 17, 1965. Edwin enjoyed being outdoors, and loved archery, model airplanes, bicycling, fishing, and deer hunting. He was very artistic and loved to sketch and draw. He was a hard worker and the ultimate do it yourself handyman. His true love in life was music. He played the both the saxophone and the clarinet, but truly loved the clarinet. He played with his heart and was a very proud member of the Sun City Concert Band. He was a passionate and caring man who will be missed dearly by all who knew him.
Edwin is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Jeanette Zielinski, his son, Edwin (Jennifer) Zielinski, Jr., and his granddaughter, Kira Zielinski.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Christine (Jerry) Abrams.
Visitation will be Monday, January 9, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 7pm with prayers ay 6:30 p.m. at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley.
Mass will be Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley.
Burial will be private at Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Edwin’s name can be made to the Sun City Concert Band, Sun City Concert Band Treasurer, 12175 W. Acorn Court, Huntley, IL 60142.
For further information please contact the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com
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Thank you for the beautiful music you played for our Oakwood Avenue Christmas parties. Your talent and love of music will always be remembered
I am so sorry to lose a friend like Ed. He gave me encouragement as a fellow clarinetist. I remember hearing him play a beautiful solo on the clarinet at one of Diane’s parties. He was playing sax at the time in the band. I’ll never forget how impressed I was. I wish he could have played his solo at our last concert, because I know how hard he worked on it, and it sounded perfect. The band will miss him greatly, and so will I.
Ed, you will be missed by so many.... more than you would ever have imagined.
Ed and I both played the saxophone in the Sun City Concert Band and sat next to each other for several years. We had lots of laughs during rehearsals and I will truly miss him. My condolences to Jeanette and his family. Rob Lindsey
It was a pleasure and an honor to know and make music with Ed. I will always treasure the time we spent together recently rehearsing the first section of Copland's Clarinet Concerto for the upcoming party. Ed's eyes sparkled as he described how moved he was by that piece the first time he heard it. "It spoke to me." His love of music and excellent performance spoke to all of us who were fortunate enough to know him. I am confident the musicians in heaven are welcoming him into their band. As for us, we will miss his good nature, cheerfulness, thoughtfulness, and talent. Thank you for sharing Ed with us, Jeanette.
Ed was such a delight to know. We talked about so many things. He was a wonderful musician and will be missed by all the members of the Sun City Band. He is now truly making heavenly music.
Jeanette, I am so very sorry. He was such a sweet quiet person. I hope to be at either the wake or at the mass.
We are so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers and love to you and your family.
Sonny, even though the distance kept us apart, you were always in my heart. My sincere condolences to Jeanette and the family.
Sonny, you were a great influence on me and I will always remember the times you used to bring your clarinet over to our house when I was young and we used to play duets together. I learned a lot from you. Will always remember our phone conversations over the past few years and how we would talk for hours about music and sharing tricks of the trade with each other. My heartfelt condolences to Jeanette, Edwin, Kira and the entire family. You will be missed