Elmer W. “Zeke” Zilhaver, age 73, died at his home, 24814 Miller Hill Road, Cambridge Springs, PA on Friday, April 24, 2009 after a vicious two week battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. Elmer was born on January 12, 1936 in Cambridge Springs, a son of the late Martin Frank Zilhaver and Gladys Pauline Kelly Zilhaver and had lived and worked on the family farm in Rockdale Twp. his entire life.
A graduate of Cambridge Springs High School, class of 1955, Elmer married Carol Jean Illig on August 17, 1959 and she survives. Early in his work years, Elmer was employed by the Erie Railroad and White Engineering in Cambridge Springs. Mainly, he was a dairy farmer who gave himself entirely to working the farm, well named as Zil-Hil-Vue Dairy Farm, seeing to its success. Concurrently he was self employed as a milk hauler and a log cutter for Bud Mitchell Logging of Waterford. Elmer served six years in the PA National Guard. He served as Rockdale Township Supervisor for 12 years and served on Rockdale Cemetery Association (Millers State Cemetery) for 40 years. For many of those years he maintained the cemetery. He enjoyed sports and particularly liked the football teams of the Cambridge Springs Blue Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Elmer had a strong work ethic and liked to spend every day on the farm where he was extremely versatile or in the woods. His family meant so much to him and he was eager to teach them all he knew.
Surviving Elmer in addition to his wife – Carol of 49 years, include three daughters – Monique Doubet and her husband, Paul of Cambridge Springs; Melinda Garner and her husband, Louis of Ridgway, PA; and Chantelle Zilhaver of Cambridge Springs and her friend – Barrie Owen of Union City; three grandchildren – Lyndsey Garner, Rustin Garner, and Bobbi Anne Doubet; a brother – Homer Zilhaver of Cambridge Springs; an aunt – Thelma Wellmon of Cambridge Springs and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also Jeff Holden of Venango who was like an adopted son. Preceding in death was an infant boy – Kelly Scott; a brother – Park Zilhaver, and an infant brother.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Sunday from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. No addition calling hours or funeral services will be observed.. Memorial gifts may be made to Cambridge Springs Volunteer Fire Dept., 302 Venango Ave., P.O. Box 188, Camb.Spgs. 16403 or the Venango Volunteer Fire Department, Venango, PA 16440.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IT IS HARD TO LOSE A GOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR LIKE ELMER. ELMER WAS A HARDWORKING MAN WHO NEVER WAS TOO BUSY TO STOP WHAT HE WAS DOING TO SAY HI OR CHAT FOR AWHILE. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP IF I NEEDED HIM “USUALLY BECAUSE I WAS STUCK” AND HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE CHECKED IN ON MY WIFE WHILE I’ve BEEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ FOR WHICH I AM GRATEFUL. ELMER MADE OUR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD A BETTER PLACE AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ME AND MY FAMILY.I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO SHOW MY RESPECT AND TO LEND A HAND TO HIS FAMILY AS HE DID MINE. SADLY ALL I CAN DO IS SEND YOU MY CONDOLENCES AND BEST WISHES. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL. GOD BLESS.