Birth date: Dec 24, 1952 Death date: Dec 6, 2022
ROBERT WAYNE ZAWROTNY 1952 - 2022 Robert Wayne Zawrotny “Bob” was born on December 24, 1952 and passed away unexpectedly on December 6, 2022. Bob was the first-born child of Robert James Zawrotny from Youngstown, Ohio and Elsie M Read Obituary
I cannot share a memory as I never met him, but I've just found out that Elsie Margaret Zawrotny was my dad's cousin. I've just been notified of this through myheritage.com. Which leads me to think that Bob must have been my second cousin
I was assigned to be a companion for Bob in September of 77 in the city of Soda Springs Idaho. He was my 2nd companion I being out all of 6 weeks and I was his last companion, he being out almost 21 months.
We served in 2 stakes, Soda Springs and Grace, which I recall being a total of around 15 units, 12 wards and 3 branches. Bob had been there about 6 weeks, and was the designated District Leader, I was the District. They called us “floaters” as we were the only missionaries around for a good 100 miles.
I have a dozen stories about working with Bob. I want to just summarize by saying he had insights that brought us successes I would have missed. In my 3 ½ months with him we brought in 25 baptisms. We led the mission in November with 8 and December with 9 as top baptizers.
We had a unique relationship, playful and rowdy. Always with deep respect aside from our clowning around. When he returned home to California about a month later it still being deep winter in Idaho, he sent me a postcard telling me how he was busy keeping the blondes on the beach lips warm and wanted me to know he was thinking of me.
About a year after I completed my mission, I ended up married and living in Orem. I looked in the phonebook and saw he was in Provo. We connected this was shortly after he married Cindy and we had dinners and played cards together several times. I spoke with him on the phone once about 20 years ago, and lost contact.
I tried finding him again on social media, and the net as my wife and I travelled in Utah last fall, but never connected. He was a great missionary and a man with a kind heart.
Elder Hofer
