Somerset, NJ,   Mr. Joseph J Zanko, 83, passed away on December 27, 2025 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Somerset. He was born in New York City and lived there until he joined the United States Special Forces in 1964 training with the 101st Airborne Division and became a Green Beret. After he finished serving his country he returned to New York and joined the Human Resources Division of Ametalco / Amax until 1979 when the company moved to Connecticut and he moved to New Jersey. He then joined Roxbury/Hackettstown Dental Associates managing their two offices for four years. In 1987 he started with Holland Manufacturing Company in Human Resources and remained with them until he retired in 2009.

He was a keen antiques collector and was very knowledgeable about antique furniture, china, glass and pottery. During the early 1980’s he managed his own shop, “Collectors Cottage,” on Route 206 in Flanders, NJ. He would attend antique auctions in NJ and PA and stock his shop with all his purchases.

He is survived by his wife Diana L (Baylis) Zanko of 57 years. He also leaves his son Michael and his wife Tamara and son Derek, and his daughter Joanna and her two children Lilian and Delaney. He is also survived by his sister Diana and brother Arthur and his wife Susan and their two children Jennifer and Laura and their families. He was predeceased by his father Joseph M Zanko, in 1976 and his mother Marie (Vanek) in 1988.

In his free time, Joe coached CYO basketball and Roxbury Township softball, baseball and soccer teams. His first love was soccer, and in the summer of 1989 he took a team of 15 and 16 year old young ladies to play soccer in Denmark and England. He loved every moment of coaching, both boys and girls.

Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Tuesday, December 30th, 2025 from 12 noon – 2 pm. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, 2 pm at the Funeral Home. The interment will follow at the Succasunna Presbyterian Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers. Please consider making a donation to The Myositis Association, 6950 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 370, Columbia, MD 21046 [email protected]. Joe suffered from inclusion Body Myositis, a rare auto-immune disease which attacks the muscles. He fought a long hard battle having been diagnosed in 2006.