Some roads lead through the woods, some over open plains, and John Zylla, travelled them all in his long journey from Chercheche, Ukraine, to the fields of Northern Alberta. Growing up on Saskatoon Mountain, farming in Poplar Ridge (Blueberry Mountain) and settling in the city of Grande Prairie, until 1994. John spent his retirement years with his wife Anne, in Kelowna, British Columbia, until his passing, January 19, 2025. Born to Theodore & Martha, in the quiet sweep of Ukraine, he stepped into the unknown as a child of immigration, and made Canada his home in 1929.

John’s life was a testament to work and wonder. Starting as a young man behind the wheel of a truck, he charted his way into the world. By eighteen, he had met Anne, “the girl next door” who would become his wife. Together, they shared a life filled with the simple joys of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors, where the seasons spoke a language John understood.

John had a knack for turning the broken into the useful, the plain into the remarkable. He could mend a wagon, shape a table, or refashion the old into something sturdier. His mind was a workshop, ever building, ever renewing. But he was not only a builder of things — he was also a builder of memories, travelling wide and far, leaving behind the quiet echoes of his banter and the steady warmth of his presence.

He is survived by Anne, his faithful wife, along with their children Louise (Brian) Krasowski and Wayne Zylla. His legacy endures in his grandchildren: Willem, Wyatt, and Campbell (who will walk their own roads guided by the echoes of his strength). Predeceased by his parents and siblings (Enna, Nick, Vera, William, Mike, Aleck, and Daniel), John now joins them in glory where there are no more tears or sorrow in perfect creation in his eternal home.

Prayers and a viewing will take place WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM (PST).
The Funeral Service, with Pastor Keith Whitaker officiating, will be held on THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM (PST), both events will be held at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. If you are unable to attend the funeral service in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service, a recording will be made available to view within 3–5 days.
A reception will be held following the service. Interment will take place after the reception at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery, 1991 Bernard Ave. Kelowna, BC.

To view the Livestream recording, please visit his obituary page at www.springfieldfuneralhome.com.