James Zink

James “Jim” D. Zink, 68, of Fremont, passed away on June 21, 2025. He was born in Fremont, Ohio, to Jack D. Zink and Marian (Hufford) Zink Christy on October 9, 1956. Jim was a 1975 graduate of Fremont Ross High School and earned a degree in electronics from the Denver Institute of Technology in 1983. Jim wore many hats when it came to careers over the years and had interests that branched into many different hobbies.

In his younger years, Jim lived for a time overseas in Italy and came back to the States where he spent time in Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Ohio. Jim was well known as the owner of Capone’s bar in the late 1970s in downtown Fremont. Much of his travelling was done over several years when he was a truck driver for Bowlus Trucking. Jim also spent many years with Christy Machine Company and was reported to be surprisingly charismatic when it came to leading their sales conventions every now and then. After retiring, Jim was a bus driver for Fremont Ross High School where he found joy in taking students to and from their various athletic events.

In his free time, Jim loved to watch all forms of racing, whether it was sprintcar, stock car, Formula 1 or NASCAR, he loved it all and he actually raced 410 sprint cars in the early 1980s. He loved collecting movie memorabilia, assembling and playing with train sets, learning about flying and playing with flight simulators, was a Cleveland Indians and Browns fan and was obsessed with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Jim and his siblings had many fond memories of spending summers together at Camp Algonquin in Michigan, memories of which he made sure to make with his own son when he was a boy.

Surviving is his son, James Abney; siblings, Howard E. (Lenna) Zink, Jonathan D. (Beth) Zink; brother-in-law, Robert Titmas and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Jaqueline Titmas; step-father, Daniel LaMar Christy Jr.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 18, 2025, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, 900 North Street, Fremont, OH, 43420. Jim will be laid to rest at a later date in Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Fremont Ross Athletic Boosters by visiting: https://www.frathleticboosters.org/get-involved/ or the Hayes Presidential Center by visiting: https://www.rbhayes.org/forms/make-a-gift/

To express online condolences, please visit: www.hermanfh.com.