CHILLICOTHE: Dr. Zenon Prusas, 90, of Chillicothe, Ohio died 6:20 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2012 in the Adena Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.

He was born June 5, 1921, in Butenai, Lithuania to the late Augustinas Prusas and Konstancija Prusiene.

On August 30, 1952, he married the former Elizabeth L. "Betty" Norwesh who died May 27, 2007.

Surviving are a son, Paul Prusas, of Atlanta, Georgia; a brother, Juozas Prusas, of Lithuania; and a sister, Nijole Petreikiene, of Lithuania. He was predeceased by a sister, Janina Prusaite.

Born in a small village in eastern Lithuania, Zenon was forced from his homeland by the Russian invasion during World War II and immigrated to the United States.
With an educational background in forestry and pulp and paper, including a PhD, Dr. Prusas came to Chillicothe, Ohio in 1955 to work at the Mead Corporation's Central Research offices. Zenon published numerous industry articles and obtained several patents. Dr. Prusas was eventually promoted to Principal Research Scientist. He retired in 1990.

When not at work, Zenon enjoyed the outdoors and nature, especially trees and forests. He personally planted over 1,000 trees on a 55 acre property he owned in Huntington Township to create a managed forest.
Zenon enjoyed working in his yard and was a fixture as an avid walker in the Brewer Heights subdivision where he lived for many years.
Zenon was also a tireless advocate for the freeing of his native Lithuania from Soviet occupation. After Lithuania gained independence, he organized and sponsored the creation of a monument in the center of his boyhood town, dedicated to Lithuanian freedom fighters.

Zenon also wrote a book about his and his family's experiences during the Soviet and Nazi invasions and occupations, entitled, "In the Whirlpools of the 20th Century: A Story of One Family" which was published in Lithuania.
He was a very active member of the Lithuanian American Community.

Zenon was a member of St. Peter Church where Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Burial will follow in St. Margaret Cemetery.
Friends may call at Ware's Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Ohio from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

You may sign his online register at www.warefh.com

Ross County, Ohio
Published in the Chillicothe Gazette on April 28, 2012 .