John Lewis Zemina, age 83, passed away peacefully at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 17, 2014. He was born June 1, 1931 in Geddes, South Dakota to Frank and Ella Armfield Zemina. John was a first generation American whose father had immigrated to the U.S. from Czech province of Bohemia in Austria-Hungary on the eve of World War I. He spent his formative years growing up as a farmhand in Mission, South Dakota with his brothers Frank, Charles, Willy, Ross, Fred, Bruce, Ed, and sister Margaret. John went on to serve with distinction in the field artillery during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954 earning the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the United Nations Service Medal. After returning home from the war, John met and married Donna Engel of Winner, South Dakota on November 12, 1955. They started a family and John eventually pursued a career with the Singer Sewing Company. After retiring, he relocated with his wife to Fayetteville where John would spend the last 26 years of his life doing what he loved best, working on sewing machines; often providing repair services for the local schools. He is survived by his wife Donna and their children: Robert L. Zemina of Sherwood, Oregon; Donald J. Zemina of Fair Oaks, California; Daughter Teri M. Coburn of Citrus Heights, California; and Theodore F. Zemina of Springdale, Arkansas. John also leaves a legacy of numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A son, Randy, daughter Barbara, and his siblings preceded him in death. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Saturday, December 20, at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will be at Winner City Cemetery in Winner, South Dakota. The family would like to give special and sincere thanks to the wonderful staff of the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks for their help and support.