PERRY PARK, CO: Jack J. Zwahlen, a retired oil geologist, died at home December 23, 2011 in Perry Park, Colorado after a long illness. He was 82.
Zwahlen was born in Crestline, Ohio, to the late John and Thelma (Long) Zwahlen.
He fondly remembered his after-school job at the town's historic Holker Hardware, which instilled a lifelong love of woodworking.
He was graduated from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, where he served as junior-class president and met his future wife, Carolyn McKain, of Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Zwahlen did his master's work at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
He worked at Stanolind Oil & Gas in Corpus Christi, Texas, then for Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Co. in Pittsburgh, PA.
He moved his family to Colorado in the 1960s to work for King Resources in Denver; then formed an independent oil exploration company. He struck his first oil in 1972.
Over the years, Zwahlen developed a love for tennis, sailing, photography, target shooting, custom-tailored suits, tobacco pipes, old Scotch and good cigars.
He always had a hand in local civic affairs and was ever ready to help out a neighbor. His post-retirement handyman business, Jack Hammerz, came to the aid of many Perry Park residents.
Zwahlen is survived by his wife; his sister, Ann "Shirlee" Blum of Crestline, Ohio; his daughters, Cyndia Zwahlen of Littleton, CO, Lissa Zwahlen Thoeny of Santa Monica, CA, and Heidi Spurgin of San Diego, CA; grandsons, Maxwell, Jack and Harris; and seven nieces and nephews, Gary Blum, Sally (Blum) Long, Meg (McKain) Grier, David McKain Jr., Katherine (McKain) Chesley, John McKain and Carolyn (McKain) Blend.
A private memorial will be held in late January.
Published in the News Journal on January 22, 2012
Richland
Crawford