John Robert Zasimovitch Sr. Tribute

May the Grace and Peace of our Lord be with you!

 

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

 

John 14:6

JN 14:6 Jesus also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

 

Today we gather together to remember John Robert Zasimovitch known by family and friends as John, Zas, and Zasi, born July 11,1934 in Linden, New Jersey called home to entry into eternal life with our Lord May 3, 2008.  John is survived by his loving wife Dotty, 6 children John Jr., Robert, Michael, Barbara, Matthew, and Nancy. 

5 Grandchildren, Stacey, Richard, Rhiannon, Jennifer, and Brandon. On behalf of my family we thank you for your prayers and support and dedicating this time from your day to celebrate the life and resurrection of John.

 

Let us pray:  Oh Loving Father, we seek your presents through your Holy Spirit we pray Lord that you would comfort us as we struggle with the loss of our loved one our friend John. Father hear our prayer. Amen

 

The other day I spoke with Dotty about my dads passing and how she did not expect him to leave us so suddenly so untimely. So because of this I feel the need to share with you of a person in the Bible who was called home untimely.

 

In the Gospel of John chapter 11 we can read about Jesus friend Lazarus who died an untimely death. And in the story we read of Martha and Mary who are crying because of their loss. Jesus arrives to mourn with Martha and Mary and He shows compassion for them. The Bible quotes that “Jesus wept.” Jesus wept knowing that Lazarus was going to be raised back to life. Today we come here to weep together for our loss knowing that John has gone on to receive the promises of God.  That John too has been raised into Life eternal.

 

The few days ago I spoke with Dotty and we reminisced about my father and her husband.  We shared about my dad’s character, his spirit, and his relationships with others.  My dad grew up as an only child and had a tough time trying to please my grandfather who was a tough old man.  My dad did not know how to express himself with his emotions and for a time was a carbon copy of my grandfather.  But I know my dad loved us the only way he knew how to.  I heard that my dad changed and I thank Dotty for calling him to change.  He was a husband, a dad, and a grandpa.  As I prepare funeral services I try to match the person with the scripture so for my dad I have chosen 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.  This scripture speaks of action words not so much a person who comes up and says I love you.

 

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

 

At this time I am going to ask if any of my family members would like to share with us their memories of John.

 

Our family has requested an open time for you to share with us of your memories too.

Thank you for sharing.

 

I remember as a young child when my grandfather and uncle were on the Linden Fire Department and my father was on the Linden Police Department.  When one day my younger brother Michael at the age of 5 was hoisted up by a young friend and he pulled the fire switch on Walnut Street when they used to be on telephone poles.  What an eventful day that was with all of the fire engines and police cars on our street.  Then it got funnier as they discovered it was their son and grandson.  I don’t think I had ever seen my father become more ticked off before or after.

 

Another time my dad was playing ball on the Linden Police baseball or softball team I am not sure anyway he took John, Michael and I to Roselle Park to practice his batting.  He stuck me way out in the out field and then started hitting balls.  I remember standing there with his ball glove on hand in the air and then the ball went in from out of the blue.  I hung on to the ball and I think he was more surprised then I was.

 

On one of my father’s visits he drove down to Florida to see my brothers and I.  He picked us up to go to Walt Disney world in Orlando.  He had over slept like he always did back then we drove to Disney world doing about 100 mph.  By the time we arrived in Disney none of those rides added up to what we just went through with him.

 

My dad was active in Linden serving 32 and half years on the Police force.  He worked 8 years before and while on the force for Linden Motor Freight.  John was also a member of the PBA, the Superior Officers Association and the Elks in Rahway.

 

When dad was not working he loved to travel to see the sights, eat good food, have a good time, and gamble. As a child I remember going down to the shore each year and walking the board walk with all of the rides or going to Lake St.George or to visit his family in Pennsylvania.     

 

Dad taught me what a Jersey stop is.  Every stop sign or light he pulled up to he rolled through it.  He never really stopped all the way.

 

Let s reflect on these memories as we listen to Josh Groban sing “You Raise Me Up.”  Time= 4:44

 

John may have lost the battle with his illness but he won the victory over death. Let me share with you the promises that John has gone on to receive. Hear these words found in:

 

John 14:2&3

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 

 

John has gone before us to receive the promises of God told to us in the scriptures. I believe John knew that life on earth was good but he discovered something better was to come.  See I believe John had come to realize the secret of life and I am going to share it with you. When we read and know the promises of God and believe them in our heart it becomes our prophecy of our future our destiny. John knows God loves him. John is in a place where there is no pain no suffering and the love of God is so very real and present that John does not want to return to us because he is receiving the blessings from God.

 

I spoke with a friend I said you know there are no earthly words that describe heaven for us in the Bible. He agreed. So I asked him this question. What do you think heaven is like? And I will never forget what he told me.  He said I believe that when we get to heaven everyone whom we have helped or ministered to who have gone before us they will greet us and will tell us of how we have blessed them and all the people who follow us will come and share with us too.  I believe my dad was greeted by his parents, and Uncle Paul and they are with God at this very moment helping prepare a place for us. See we are separated but only for a short time see we are promised in the scriptures to be reunited again with our loved ones.

 

We will now listen to Brad Paisley sing “When I Get To Where I’m Going.”

Time= 4:01

 

 

So what do we do until that day comes when we are reunited with John?

Listen to these words,

Psalm 23

 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness  for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I  will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

 

Let us pray:  Oh Loving father we hear your promises and receive hope for tomorrow. But we seek you at this moment to bring a peace to our hearts as we struggle with the emptiness we now feel. We are grateful for the memories of John that are etched on our hearts and we look to the day when we are reunited with him in the presents of your glory.  Father, hear our prayer hear the prayer Jesus teaches us to pray.

 

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hollowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdome come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.

 

And now we will listen to Mercy me sing “I Can Only Imagine.”

Time= 4:04

 

Let us pray:

Father, we have gathered to worship you and to be living witnesses by our faith as we mourn the death of John. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss.  Father God search our hearts, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection. Amen

 

This concludes the chapel service.

 

 

Friends

In the midst of life, we are in death; from whom can we seek help?

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

God who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through the Spirit that dwells in you.

Listen, I will tell you a mystery!

We will not all die, but we will all be changed.

For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. Then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where O death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Let us pray:

Almighty God, into your hands we commend your Son John in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

This body we commit into you hands earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Amen

 

 

 

Receive this Blessing.

 

And now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And may the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Go now in peace. Amen

 

Prepared by: Rev. Robert W. Zasimovitch