Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
October 7, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
Melvin W. Zintel “Mel”, age 80, of Riverdale and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday, October 7, 2013.
Mel was born in Waymart, PA. One of Wesley and Helen Zintel’s five children, when he was just a very young boy, his family moved to Kearny, NJ and Mel went on to graduate from Kearny High School.
As a young man, Mel took a keen interest in cars, and on weekends he could often be found working on the pit crew for one of his friends who had a car that they raced together at the racetrack in Jersey City. His love of cars was something he enjoyed throughout his life. At one time he even had an antique car of his own and he loved to check out what was showing at antique car shows.
Mel was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and he served in Korea during the Korean War.
One snowy, wintery day, he spotted a pretty girl struggling with an extremely large package. The girl’s name was Louise Reichers and she had just purchased a still-to-be-assembled red wagon that she planned to give to her cousin John Cruitt for Christmas. Mel pulled over and asked Louise if he could give her a hand to get the package home. She gratefully accepted his offer. A couple days later, Mel was back to Louise’s house to help her assemble the wagon and the two of them really hit it off! One of Mel’s favorite pastimes was going to see the big bands. His favorite band featured Joni James and he loved to take Louise to see Joni and other bands in Asbury Park and New York City. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Mel returned to his hometown of Kearny. They eventually married on February 25, 1956 at Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They honeymooned in Daytona Beach, FL, not just because of the sunny warm climate, but also because they could go to the auto races on the beach. After their honeymoon, they lived in Bellville, then Kearny before purchasing their first home in North Arlington where they stayed for the next twenty years raising their two daughters, Sheri and Dori. They moved again in 1984 to Wayne where they stayed until moving down to the Jersey shore to live in an adult community. They quickly learned that life down the shore was not for them because they missed their children and grandchildren way too much. Mel and Louise moved back to North Jersey, this time settling in Riverdale where they have remained to this day.
Mel was owner operator of his own 18-wheeler where he mostly contracted with William Cavill Trucking of Linden hauling sulfuric acid. Mel once entered a truck rodeo where he placed first in the New Jersey competition. He went on to compete in the National Trucking Association event where he placed seventh overall in the country!
He was a long-time member of Free Masons, most recently with the Adoniram Lodge No. 80 F&AM of Lyndhurst. While serving as a Free Mason, he was also former president of the Craftsman’s Club.
Mel was extremely devoted to his family and his favorite place to go with them was Cape Cod. Every summer, Mel’s whole family, including his daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren vacationed in Cape Cod. His grandchildren thought he was the best because he’d get right in there playing with them on the bumper boats, jumping on the trampolines, racing the go-carts, or participating in more tranquil activities like fishing, collecting sea shells or sometimes even going whale watching. He and his dear Louise loved to dine with family and friends at Cape Cod’s own Lobster Boat Restaurant as well as the Shrimp Box in Point Pleasant and Monica’s Restaurant closer to home in Pompton Lakes.
Mel was a notorious joke teller. No matter what the occasion or who the person was, Mel had a way of charming people through the jokes he could tell. Always smiling, he loved to make others happy with a quick joke or a little gift or in any way he could help.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 57 years, Louise (nee Reichers); two daughters; Sheri Guggiari and husband Bob of Pompton Lakes, and Dori Zintel of Totowa; 5 grandchildren: Brian, Shannon, Jamie, Jenny and James; two brothers and two sisters: Lanny Zintel of FL, Violet Todd of Budd Lake, Larry Zintel and wife Winnie of CO, and Doreen Stanfield of NC; his cousin John Cruitt of Jersey City; and his former son-in-law Douglas Marotti and wife Donna of Wayne.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Mel’s name are asked to consider the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
October 7, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
Melvin W. Zintel “Mel”, age 80, of Riverdale and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday, October 7, 2013.
Mel was born in Waymart, PA. One of Wesley and Helen Zintel’s five children, when he was just a very young boy, his family moved to Kearny, NJ and Mel went on to graduate from Kearny High School.
As a young man, Mel took a keen interest in cars, and on weekends he could often be found working on the pit crew for one of his friends who had a car that they raced together at the racetrack in Jersey City. His love of cars was something he enjoyed throughout his life. At one time he even had an antique car of his own and he loved to check out what was showing at antique car shows.
Mel was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and he served in Korea during the Korean War.
One snowy, wintery day, he spotted a pretty girl struggling with an extremely large package. The girl’s name was Louise Reichers and she had just purchased a still-to-be-assembled red wagon that she planned to give to her cousin John Cruitt for Christmas. Mel pulled over and asked Louise if he could give her a hand to get the package home. She gratefully accepted his offer. A couple days later, Mel was back to Louise’s house to help her assemble the wagon and the two of them really hit it off! One of Mel’s favorite pastimes was going to see the big bands. His favorite band featured Joni James and he loved to take Louise to see Joni and other bands in Asbury Park and New York City. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Mel returned to his hometown of Kearny. They eventually married on February 25, 1956 at Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They honeymooned in Daytona Beach, FL, not just because of the sunny warm climate, but also because they could go to the auto races on the beach. After their honeymoon, they lived in Bellville, then Kearny before purchasing their first home in North Arlington where they stayed for the next twenty years raising their two daughters, Sheri and Dori. They moved again in 1984 to Wayne where they stayed until moving down to the Jersey shore to live in an adult community. They quickly learned that life down the shore was not for them because they missed their children and grandchildren way too much. Mel and Louise moved back to North Jersey, this time settling in Riverdale where they have remained to this day.
Mel was owner operator of his own 18-wheeler where he mostly contracted with William Cavill Trucking of Linden hauling sulfuric acid. Mel once entered a truck rodeo where he placed first in the New Jersey competition. He went on to compete in the National Trucking Association event where he placed seventh overall in the country!
He was a long-time member of Free Masons, most recently with the Adoniram Lodge No. 80 F&AM of Lyndhurst. While serving as a Free Mason, he was also former president of the Craftsman’s Club.
Mel was extremely devoted to his family and his favorite place to go with them was Cape Cod. Every summer, Mel’s whole family, including his daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren vacationed in Cape Cod. His grandchildren thought he was the best because he’d get right in there playing with them on the bumper boats, jumping on the trampolines, racing the go-carts, or participating in more tranquil activities like fishing, collecting sea shells or sometimes even going whale watching. He and his dear Louise loved to dine with family and friends at Cape Cod’s own Lobster Boat Restaurant as well as the Shrimp Box in Point Pleasant and Monica’s Restaurant closer to home in Pompton Lakes.
Mel was a notorious joke teller. No matter what the occasion or who the person was, Mel had a way of charming people through the jokes he could tell. Always smiling, he loved to make others happy with a quick joke or a little gift or in any way he could help.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 57 years, Louise (nee Reichers); two daughters; Sheri Guggiari and husband Bob of Pompton Lakes, and Dori Zintel of Totowa; 5 grandchildren: Brian, Shannon, Jamie, Jenny and James; two brothers and two sisters: Lanny Zintel of FL, Violet Todd of Budd Lake, Larry Zintel and wife Winnie of CO, and Doreen Stanfield of NC; his cousin John Cruitt of Jersey City; and his former son-in-law Douglas Marotti and wife Donna of Wayne.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Mel’s name are asked to consider the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)
Guestbook