Zomlefer. Jack, Zomlefer. Jack

Jack Zomlefer, 92, of Marion, died peacefully at his home at Summit Pointe Senior Living Community on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013.

Dr. Zomlefer was born in Chicago on April 23, 1921, and was the son of the late Minnie and Louis Zomlefer. He received his BS in 1942 from the University of Illinois, his MS from the University of Iowa in 1943 and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Notre Dame University in 1949.

He founded and developed Solar Chemical Corporation (Leominster, Mass.), a plastics manufacturer, in the early 1950s and was its president until his retirement in 1975 when he moved to Plantation, Fla., followed by Las Vegas, Nev., before moving to Marion, Iowa, in 2008.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy of 48 years; and his second wife, Esther of five years.

Survivors include son, Michael Zomlefer of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Kayla Zomlefer of Boston, Mass. and Wendy Zomlefer of Athens, Ga.; grandchildren, Eben Scanlon, Dulcie O'Hara and Damian Cuffel; and great- grandchildren, Eva, Lila, Christopher, Kieren and Teagan.

He is also survived by his younger sister, Cookie of Chicago; and sister-in-law, Florence Zomlefer of Leominster, Mass.

Jack was an avid coin and stamp collector and enjoyed gardening, he loved to travel and play cards. Throughout his life, he was a dynamic mentor/tutor to many K-12 and college students. He was a passionate researcher in the field of polymer chemistry and had many patents credited to his efforts.

Jack was an active member of Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids, where he made countless friends over the past five years.

Jack's gravesite service was held Aug. 12, 2013, at Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge, Ill.

Please leave a message for the family on Web page under obituaries.

Donations in Jack's memory may be made to the Humane Society of Cedar Rapids; www.cvhumane.org/donate/pet-memorial-donations.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 27, 2013.