Rev. Eric John Zacharias, 101, of Pretty Prairie, died April 8, 2021, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born February 18, 1920, in Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Rev. John E. and Marie H. (Klassen) Zacharias.
Eric graduated from Herbert High School in 1939, Urbana College in 1941, and both Boston University and Swedenborg School of Religion in Cambridge, MA, in 1950. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1941-1945.
Except for serving the El-Cerrito, CA, church from 1958-1962, Eric was minister at New Jerusalem Church, Pretty Prairie, from 1950 to 2006. He served two terms as mayor of the City of Pretty Prairie and two terms as president of the Swedenborgian Church of North America. Eric also worked for the Welfare Departments of Reno and Kingman Counties for several years and was instrumental in the beginning of Horizons Mental Health Center, where he also worked for 5 years.
On May 29, 1943, Eric married Alice E. ‘Betty’ Melenbacher, in Ayr, Ontario, Canada. They shared 66 years of marriage before her death on October 15, 2009.
He is survived by: children, Richard Zacharias (Bev) of Wichita, Lynn Charlesworth (Bill) of Montoursville, PA, Veneta Lane of Hutchinson, Rebecca Colbert of Urbana, OH, Ames Zacharias (Sue) of Kennewick, WA; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granchildren; sisters, Laura Simpson of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, Marian Hoeck of Copenhagen, Denmark; and numerous extended family members.
Eric was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Henry Zacharias, Rev. Paul Zacharias, Clifford Zacharias; and sons-in-law, Elvin Lane and Clark Colbert.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021, at New Jerusalem Church, 106 N. Maple, Pretty Prairie, with Rev. Jane Siebert officiating. COVID-19 precautions will be enforced. Private family inurnment will be in Lone Star Cemetery, Pretty Prairie.
Friends may sign the memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorial donations are suggested to the church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.