Myron F. Zerger Obituary

Myron F. Zerger attended Fordson High School in Dearborn, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Myron F. Zerger.

Graduation Year	Faculty
Date of Passing	Jan 05, 2021
About	Myron Floyd Zerger December 02, 1929 - January 05, 2021 Maples Science Teacher/football coach Myron Zerger, Teacher and Lifelong Peace Activist, Dies at 91 On April 3rd, 1974 an F5 tornado tore through the heart of Zenia, Ohio, killing 33 people and injuring more than 1300, destroying or damaging more than 1400 buildings. Within hours Brethren Disaster Ministries called for volunteers. Myron Zerger received the call in Dearborn MI. Without fuss nor fanfare, Zerger headed south to help rebuild the community. Prior to Christmas of 1973, Zerger joined the community in Homestead Florida, to rebuild after an F2 Tornado. In 1965, after the "Palm Sunday" Tornado Outbreak in Goshen Indiana, Zerger was there. Myron Zerger-peace activist, teacher, father and grandfather, died on January 5th, 2021. His son, Tom Zerger, said the cause was a wonderful, long-lived life. Myron was born December 2, 1929 to Peter E. and Viola A. Flickner Zerger on the family farm near Elyria, Kansas, a community deeply rooted in the Mennonite Church. A historic "Peace Church", the Mennonite Church is deeply committed to the principals of service, tithing and peace. Zerger's deep spiritual commitment informed his character and life choices. He was a conscientious objector to the Korean War, performing alternative service at Brook Lane Farm, a mental health facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, owned and operated by the Mennonite Central Committee. It was there that he met his wife, Ardis Brenneman, a nurse at the facility. They married on April 30, 1954. Zerger taught science and math in the Dearborn Public Schools for over three decades, where he also coached football. Myron and Ardis raised four children: Nadine, Peter, Tom and Jennifer. The family spent their summers camping throughout the country, collecting rocks with the Dearborn Rock Club. Throughout his entire life, Zerger donated 25% of his teacher's salary to his church, environmental and peace groups. His commitment to peace and social justice led him to Nicaragua and Guatamala on peace delegation. In later years, Myron traveled to Alaska with the "New Communities Project", in order to learn from the Indigenous communities. Throughout their lives, Myron and Ardis advocated on behalf of people living with mental health issues and worked tirelessly to remove the stigma of mental illness. The couple regularly made surprise visits to Northville Psychiatric Hospital in order to monitor the facilities condition. They served as Presidents of the Dearborn Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). After Myron's death, his son Tom found a small scrap of paper in his wallet with faded hand writing that perfectly described Myron Zerger: 7 Faces of Intention. 1. Be Creative 2. Be Kind 3. Be Love 4. Be Beauty 5. Be Ever Expansive 6. Be Abundant 7. Be Receptive and Peaceful Survivors include children Nadine Zerger, Goshen, Indiana, Peter Zerger, Livonia, MI; Thomas Zerger, Dearborn, MI; and Jennifer Brown (Zerger) Mt. Clemens, MI. Grandchildren Alisha , Jordon & Nicole , Ardis and Cora. Great Grandchildren: Karsten, Richie, Ariana and Mason Myron. Myron attended Living Peace Church of the Brethren in Plymouth, Michigan. Memorial gifts should be directed to NAMI of Metro Detroit: http;nami;metro.org/ or Living Peace Church of the Brethren. 684 Deer Street, Plymouth, MI 48170. COMMENTS: I always loved Mr. Zerger. I remember him telling John Straatsma during football season: Straatsma, get on Offense (using the long vowel O). Jerry Degrazia I must have missed this in the newspaper. He was my science teacher and football coach. It's sad news indeed. Ron Marinucci Oh how I loved Mr. Zerger! Had him for science at Maples. Think about him often and with fond memories. This article is a wonderful example of his character and a live truly well lived. Prayers to him and has family. May he fly with the angels. Nancy Piramalli/Koenig I remember Mr. Zerger very well. Very nice man. However, I never knew what a caring man he was. May God bless him and his family. Ted Cuda He was good guy , his son Tom bowled with us on infamous Gutter Rats --Don Delaney Mr. Zerger and Raymer were a couple of the teachers that I had at Maples......Ben Terwellen Thank you for sending this remembrance of a kind-hearted, devoted educator and man. Mr. Z was as committed to learning and his students as he was gracious and genuine. He was a favorite of mine and we shared many great conversations when I was his student and, like you, his player. We were blessed to know and be influenced by him. Rest In Peace, Mr. Z.----Chuck Rossi Thanks for the info. Mr. Zerger was one of my favorite teachers. What an amazing backstory of service. Russ Gibb had a storied life in rock and roll, but Mr. Zerger with his good works made the real difference.---vic jiompkowski I enjoyed his classes--- Kris Falvo (Marinucci) 'Myron was a dear friend, a great Maples colleague, and guy that I golfed with most weeks during summers for several years in the 1970s. Annette and I ran into Ardis and Myron in mid '90s at a historic reenactment, Rendezvous on the Rouge, in Dearborn. We had a nice conversation at a picnic table there...this an amazing biography of the good that he did. Much appreciated, Jim/Annette McConnell