Robert John Zentner

Robert John Zentner, 87, died Monday, July 5, 2010, at Homewood at Crumland Farms. He was born Nov. 26, 1922, in Monticello, Wis., the only child of Dr. John Peter and Amanda Budzien Zentner. After graduation from Bayview High School in Milwaukee, Wis., Robert enrolled at Ripon College. His studies were interrupted in 1944 when he was called to active duty during World War II. He served in the European Theater with the 304th Infantry as a unit commander of troops in combat. After the war, he returned to Ripon College, graduating in 1946. He went on to receive his Master of Science from Case Institute of Technology in 1950 and continued his studies in physics at the University of Wisconsin from 1949 to 1951.-- Robert was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1942 to 1953. He was recalled to active duty in 1951, during which time he was stationed at Camp Detrick as a first lieutenant with the Chemical Corps. After his discharge from active duty in 1952, he made Frederick his home and continued employment at Detrick. He served as the assistant chief and chief of the Applied Research Office, chief of the Biophysical Research Branch, and chief of the Physical Sciences Division. Robert continued his civil service as chief of the Technology Branch, U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command, Alexandria, Va., retiring from government service in 1980. Robert was then employed with EIA Corp. and Eyler Research Corp. in Frederick until 1992. Robert lived his life in accordance with a quote he once made in The Frederick New-Post, "making a contribution to the community through volunteer work is a fundamental element of life." He was a member (in many instances, an officer) of the Frederick Toastmasters, Frederick County Citizens Committee for Education, Friends for Neighborhood Progress, Frederick Organization for Rehabilitation Inc., Frederick County Human Relations Council, Frederick Community Action Agency, United Way, Frederick City Soup Kitchen, Housing Authority of the City of Frederick, Maryland Association of Community Action Agencies, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Frederick County Branch NAACP, League of Women Voters, United Democrats, Frederick County Human Relations Commission, Frederick Chapter Izaak Walton League of America, and the Korean War Veterans Association. He was active for many years with All Saints Episcopal Church in many roles from registrar to vestryman and as a member of the Over the Hill Gang. Robert was a member of Sigma XI and recipient of many awards and citations both from his military and civilian careers and from his community involvements. He and Barbara Case Zentner were married in 1945. He is survived by his wife; his daughter, Nancy, and her partner, Steve Miller, of Mercersburg, Pa.; his son, Joseph, and his wife, Cindy, of Woodsboro; and his grandchildren, Rob Weinberg and wife, Jacqui, and Casey Weinberg Florance and husband, Keith, all of Washington, and Amanda Wagner and husband, Jacob, of Virginia Beach, Va. Robert was predeceased by his son, John, in 2008. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, July 9, at the Keeney and Basford PA Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, from All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick. Interment will be in the Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. Contributions in Robert's memory may be made to All Saints' Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick, MD or to Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20001. Online condolences may be shared with the family at keeneybasford.com