Frederick H. Zerbst, Jr.

Frederick H. Zerbst, Jr., 71, of Stratford, New York, passed away on Monday afternoon, December 20, 2021 at Westchester Medical Center, in Mount Pleasant, New York due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He was born on February 18, 1950 in Amsterdam, New York and was the son of the late, Frederick and Eleanor (Michalski) Zerbst. Fred attended Amsterdam High School and graduated with the Class of 1968.

After graduation, Fred was employed at Noteworthy in Amsterdam, NY until he enlisted in the United States Air Force in June of 1969, where he served his country during the Vietnam War Era. He was honorably discharged in December of 1972, earning the rank of Sergeant. In 1977, Fred enlisted in the New York State Army National Guard. He retired from his military career in 1995 after 21 years of service.

In 1976, Fred began working for General Electric in Schenectady, New York. He retired in 2016, after 40 years of dedicated employment.

On August 16, 1980, Frederick was united in marriage to the former, Elizabeth Marie (Lipiec) Nabinger in Amsterdam, New York. Later, they had their marriage blessed in a Catholic ceremony at St. Joseph’s Church in Dolgeville, New York. The couple recently celebrated 41 years of marriage together, where they raised their children and grandchildren in a loving home.

Fred was a faithful parishioner of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Dolgeville, New York where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also served his church in various roles and was always volunteering to help with any project that needed attention. His most recent project was helping to restore the altar area for St. Joseph’s Church. Fred spent many hours on the flooring and the wiring in the area that now holds the new altar for the church.

In younger years, Fred was a volunteer E.M.T. for the Greater Amsterdam Volunteer Corps from the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s. He enjoyed watching movies especially westerns, reading, and alongside his wife, helping to tend to their 49-acre hobby farm. He was always willing to help out a friend, neighbor or his church with anything he was needed for. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, neighbor and church member, he will be sorely missed by all who knew Fred.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth (Betty) M. Zerbst, at home; his daughters, Eleanor Duffy and her husband, Michael of Vestal, NY and Alma Yockel and her husband, William of the Town of Salisbury, NY; step-children, Tammy Benoit and her husband, Richard of Little Falls, NY and James Nabinger and his wife, Renee Travins of the Town of Glen, NY; grandchildren, John Ackley, Nicholas Sladky and his companion, Mercedez, Peter Sladky, Nathaniel Katchuk, Alexandra Yockel, Samantha Edgett and her companion, Chad Rappleyea, Amber Vogle and Kelly Vogle; great-grandchildren, Kaden Ackley, Mabel Ackley and Isaiah Sladky; his siblings, Jacqueline Smith and her husband, Mike of Cropseyville, NY, James C. Zerbst (Marion) of Amsterdam, NY; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Thomas Lipiec and his companion, Kathleen Schofield of West Edmeston, NY, James Lipiec and his wife, Kay of Little Falls, NY, Daniel Lipiec (Sametta Shaw) of Frankfort, NY, Patricia Backus and her husband, Robert of Sykesville, MD, Joseph Lipiec and his wife, Lisa Tobler of Fort Plain, NY, Mary Schwasnick and her husband, David of Mohawk, NY, David Lipiec of Little Falls, New York; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, many cousins, special friends, church family and neighbors who are like family.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, December 27, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, 30 Wolf Street, Dolgeville, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 31 N. Helmer Avenue, Dolgeville, New York, with Father Brian K. Slezak, pastor officiating and the Knights of Columbus as honor guard. Procession will follow to St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, New York where committal prayers will be offered and the United States Air Force will accord funeral honors.

Please consider memorial contributions in memory of Frederick H. Zerbst, Jr. for St. Joseph's Church, c/o Holy Family Parish, 763 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY 13365 and please note in memo, "In Memory of Frederick H. Zerbst, Jr." in order for the memorial to be acknowledged.

To leave a message of sympathy for Fred’s family, please visit www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the tribute wall.

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