Matthew Zielinski

Matthew Richard Zielinski of Nevada City, CA (formerly of Alton, IL) passed away peacefully surrounded by family and close friends April 1, 2016 at San Juan Mercy Medical Center, Carmichael, CA after a brief illness.

Matthew was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 9, 1956 to Marian (Parkes) and Eugene Mark Zielinski.

Matthew was a former member of The Farm community in Tennessee, founded by the late Stephen Gaskin. Matt took much joy in serving The Farm, doing refrigeration and handyman repairs. He helped in The Farm’s soy dairy and tofu kitchen for Farm Foods at its inception. After leaving The Farm, Matt helped start several food co-ops in Arizona and California including the Peoples Food Co-Op in San Diego, CA. He worked as an Electrician and Plumber in the San Francisco Bay Area. Matt had a wide range of interests including technology and politics, was an artist; he enjoyed painting, glass blowing, drumming, playing flute and chess. He was an advocate of human, animal and Earth rights and was a prankster and merrymaker. Matt challenged people’s minds, views and perceptions, and was a soldier for equal rights, peace and justice.

Matthew is survived by his sister Margaret ‘Missy’ Zielinski Paleno, husband Rob Paleno, brother, David Zielinski; nieces, Jennifer Price (Zielinski) husband Erik Price; Erica Zielinski, Emily Zielinski, Megan Paleno; and nephew Andrew Paleno; companions, Michele Rice, Michael Blackwell, Justin Martinez and friends at the Last Resort.

His mother, Marian (Parkes) Zielinski passed away on June 15, 2016. He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael Zielinski; and father, Eugene Mark Zielinski.

A gathering to honor his life will be held Saturday, August 20, 2016 with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, Alton. Gent Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com