Floyd H. Zerfowski's Obituary
Floyd H. Zerfowski was the oldest living retiree, retiring in 1970, from the Decatur Police Department, who passed away in his home on May 5, 2019.
Born in Fort Wayne, IN on February 15, 1920, the son of a Wabash Railroad worker Emil H. and Anna Marie (Scheffler) Zerfowski. Floyd moved to Decatur when he was three years old and has been here since.
After Floyd graduated from Decatur High School in January 1939, he worked for the National Youth Administration. After he received a draft deferment because of a childhood injury, Floyd was employed building 105mm shells on an assembly line in Elwood, IL during World War II, then as a machinist working on tank engines at the Signal Depot.
He met his wife, Lois Stephens, when they worked together at the Signal Depot. They were wed on April 15, 1945 in Joliet, IL., on the day they buried President Roosevelt. After 42 years together, Lois Zerfowski died on May 19, 1987.
Before he hired on with the Decatur Police Department on June 16, 1949, Floyd worked as a contract truck driver for the post office.
Floyd established an excellent reputation, because after just four years after he was hired at the Decatur Police Department, he was assigned to take part in a unique operation involving a road trip by a recently retired US President Harry S Truman. The chief of police found out that the ex-president was in town on June 1954. He assigned Floyd and several other officers to sit outside his room at Parkview Motel.
Floyd Zerfowski was the only officer who guarded Truman who remained alive when the author Matthew Algeo came to Decatur in 2006 to research his book, “Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure” His interview is featured in the book.
While Floyd was on the force back in the 50’s he would drive cars to Detroit for Borg-Warner. Borg Warner built carburetors and installed them on test vehicles. Floyd would drive them to Detriot and bring back another car for them to start the process over again. He would go at least twice a month and he did this for several years on his nights off.
After he retired from the police force, he worked as a maintenance man for the Decatur School District.
Floyd loving listening to jazz music and was a partron of the Juvae Jazz Society. Every year he would attend the Jazz Festival in Decatur, put on by the Juvae Jazz Society.
He is survived by daughters Ruth Laverty of Jackson, TN and Janet Denton of Decatur; one brother, Larry (Dolly) Zerfowski of Macon, IL and one sister, Doris Reick of Roanoke, VA; grandchildren Robert Denton and Nikki Denton; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, one sister (Mildred) and two brothers (Ray and Bob).
We would like to thank the Hospice workers who helped our dad: Susan, Tykia, Jan, Joyce, and Jim.
A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2019 at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Graceland Cemetery. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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