Rev. John Dutzar
POLSON — Memorial services with military honors were held Dec. 30 in the First Presbyterian Church of Polson for the Rev. John Dutzar, 89, who died at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Dec. 27, 2004.
He was born June 11, 1915, in Nanticoke, Pa., to Andrew and Anna Lynynsky. His parents died in the worldwide Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918. He was adopted by Frank and Anna Dutzar of Nanticoke and grew up in that area.
His two brothers, George and Joe were adopted by other families. John and George played together as children without knowing until later that they were brothers.
John left home immediately after graduating from high school in Nanticoke and took a job as chauffeur for Mrs. Leah Holmes of Philadelphia.
John joined the Army in 1941 before Pearl Harbor. He had been in the National Guard and entered the Army as a Private First Class and had attained the rank of captain when discharged. He served three years overseas a field artillery spotter and saw action in Saipan and Okinawa.
He and Elsie Zitterkopf were married in 1942 in Little Rock, Ark. They met when John was hospitalized following a traffic accident and Elsie was a nurse in the same hospital. John became like a son to his former employer, Mrs. Holmes, and she felt so much a part of his life that she gave Elsie her engagement ring. This ring is now worn by the Dutzars' daughter, Jonelle.
After his discharge he obtained a BA degree in business administration from Denver University, completing the course in three years while also working. He was employed in a Denver lumber yard and was transferred later to a Lingle, Wyo., lumber yard before moving to Powell, Wyo., where he managed a lumber yard for a year before deciding to become a minister.
John attended San Francisco Theological Seminary. Upon completion of seminary, he served the Presbyterian churches in Coram, Martin City and West Glacier. He also conducted summer services in Glacier National Park. He came to Polson in 1965 where he served the First Presbyterian Church until retiring in 1980.
During his tenure he was twice the moderator of Glacier Presbytery, was active in community projects, was a member of the Polson Rotary Club and the VFW Post in which he served as chaplain for several years.
John was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Surviving are his wife Elsie, daughter Jonelle and son Jack, all of Spokane; and five grandchildren, John Bellis of San Francisco, James (J.J.) Bellis and Jacqueline Bellis, all of Spokane; Benjamin Dutzar of Seattle and Anna Dutzar of Spokane.
Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in Spokane.
Memorials to be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Polson, 301 Fourth Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860; checks payable to the church should be marked One Great Hour of Sharing.