Carl Joseph Zvonek

Carl Joseph Zvonek was born February 6, 1941, and passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the age of 83. Carl is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathryn Hartley Zvonek; his children, Amy Knight (Terry), John Zvonek (Tricia), and Daniel S. “Dan” Zvonek (Monica): his grandchildren, Amanda Pittman (Brandon), John Zvonek, Jr. and Caroline Zvonek; and his great-grandchildren, Garrett and Madeline Pittman. He is also survived by his identical twin brother, Daniel F. “Dan” Zvonek (Barbara) of New River, AZ, and his sisters-in-law, JoAnn Webster and Lana Hartley. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles “Charlie” and Della Zvonek; his father-in-law, Murl Hartley and mother-in-law, Kathryn Hartley; and his brothers-in-law, James “Jim” Webster and James “Jim” Hartley.

Carl graduated from Midwest City High School in Midwest City, OK and in Industrial Arts from Central State University (currently the University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond, OK. He was a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. Carl worked for a short time as a shop teacher at Jarman Junior High School in Midwest City, OK. Carl was transferred to Baton Rouge, LA from Dallas, TX, where he was working for Morgan Express. He later retired from ExxonMobil after 22 years. He was a long-time parishioner of St. Thomas More Catholic Church and a member of the planning committee for the current church. He enjoyed coaching his children in sports and watching his sons participate in them at Catholic High School. Carl was an avid collector of many things, including cacti, succulents, and antiques. He taught himself how to repair antique clocks, excelled in the art of blacksmithing, and enjoyed spending time at his country getaway in Clinton, LA. Carl was a member of the Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association and the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. Carl and his wife, Kay, spent many Saturday mornings at his booth at the Baton Rouge Art Market, displaying and selling his custom lamps, crosses and knives, many of which will forever be treasured by family and friends. In his later years, Carl also loved weekly breakfast meetings with friends at Frank’s Restaurant and Mary Lee Donuts on O’Neal Lane. He was immensely proud of his family, and his family is immensely proud of him and grateful for the blessing of having him in their lives for so many years. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, in Baton Rouge. A Memorial Visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 9:00 a.m. Inurnment will be held in Oklahoma City, OK at a later date.

The family would extend a special thanks to Katisha of @Homecare of Louisiana and the staff at Hospice in His Care.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com