of Yellville, AR

June 25, 1936 - June 29, 2022

John L. Mizanin (1936-2022)

John passed away peacefully on June 29, 2022 at his home in Yellville, Ark., surrounded by family. He is preceded in death by wife, Ilsa (Zilmer) Mizanin; parents, John and Donna (Lowe) Mizanin; sister, Audrey (Mizanin) Seibt and brothers, Donald and Ronald Mizanin.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth (Sevening) Mizanin, five children and six grandchildren.

John was born in 1936 on the South Side of Chicago, Ill. As a teen, he played football and developed a passion for swimming and diving. He earned a diving scholarship to North Central College in Naperville, Ill. and became a nationally ranked collegiate diver. At North Central, he met Ilsa Zilmer and earned a bachelor's degree in education. He later received a master's degree from Northern Illinois University.

He settled in St. Charles, Ill. and taught history and government for 28 years at Haines Junior High School and St. Charles High School, where he was a well-loved teacher and coach. During summer breaks, he managed pools and coached age group swim teams at Pottawatomie Park and Geneva Park District.

While at the high school, he coached boys and girls swimming and diving and helped lead his teams to six state championships. In 1991, he was inducted into the Illinois Diving Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership, service and outstanding achievement.

He retired to a lake house in Arkansas and taught courses at Arkansas State University in Mountain Home. For nearly 20 years, he hosted annual reunions for his children and grandchildren at Bull Shoals Lake.

Roller-Burns Funeral Home.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Burns Funeral Home
725 North Panther Ave.
Yellville, AR  72687
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com