This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Walter Zielinski died on Feb. 26 at the Branford Hills Health Care Center. He was the husband of 73 years to the late Sophie Olszewski Zielinski.

He was the father of Elizabeth Esposito (husband Joseph) of East Haven and James Zielinski of Maine. He was the brother of Benjamin Zielinski (wife Norma) of Branford. He was the grandfather of Philip, Jody, Lisa, and Joseph, and the great-grandfather of Brittany, Justin, Gianna, Michael, and Landen. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Laura Hart and June Emilita, and his brother Joseph Zielinski.

Walter was born in Branford on Sept. 16, 1922, a son of Joseph and Helen Krakow Zielinski. He served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army for 38 years. He served in World War II, and was on active duty during the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1980, he was part of the rescue effort at the Mount St. Helens volcano eruption in Washington State. He was a member of Battery H Tank Corps in Branford. After he retired from active duty in the Army, he was a part-time caretaker at the Armory in Branford, and also at Harbor Village in Branford. He was a member of the American Legion Post 83 in Branford, as well as the V.F.W. and the Branford Elks Club.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on March 2 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Branford. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery in Branford. Friends may call March 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 N. Main St., Branford. For an online memorial, visit www.wsclancy.com.