Jan Bradley Zehr

CROGHAN, NY ~ Jan B. “JB” Zehr, 67, a lifelong resident of Croghan, passed peacefully in the loving presence of his family at his 9872 NYS Rt. 812, Croghan, residence on Monday, September 16, 2024, where he had been under the devoted care of his family and Lewis County Hospice.

Born October 3, 1956 in Lowville, NY, a son of Mark J. and Beatrice Bast Zehr, he was a 1975 graduate of Beaver River Central School. In 1977, he was graduated from Jefferson Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Jan’s law enforcement career began in 1976 when he became one of the youngest Chiefs of Police in the state, working for his home town village of Croghan. In 1978, he left the Croghan Police and became a Deputy Sheriff with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department where he remained for the next 28 years. From 2006 until 2007, he worked part time for the Lewis Co. Court House in Lowville, after which, he became a full-time court officer for the NYS Unified Court System continuing to work out of the Court house until his retirement in 2019 due to illness.

He was a proud member of the Lowville Lodge 134 Free and Accepted Masons, the 32nd Scottish Rite Masons in Syracuse, and an honored member of the Media Shriners in Watertown. He was also an active member of the Blue Rock Hunting Club that he greatly enjoyed.

A man of many interests, he especially enjoyed hunting, bowling, golfing and travelling out west to Las Vegas and to stay with his brother, Mark.

Surviving are three brothers, Benjamin (Patricia) Zehr, of Indianapolis, IN, Mark (Deb) Zehr, of Greeley, CO, and Vaughn Zehr, of Croghan; his sister, Mary (Andy) Grau, of Castorland; nine nieces and nephews, many cousins, and his revered friend, Travis Grunert, of Castorland.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Nancy Ann Zehr, a twin of his brother, Mark, who died at birth, and a nephew, Zachary Zehr.

Relatives and friends are invited to Jan’s calling hours at Scanlon Funeral Home in Croghan on Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 12 Noon until 2:00 p.m., at which time there will be a family prayer service, followed by his private interment in the First Mennonite Church Cemetery in New Bremen. A brief Masonic prayer rite will be held at the funeral home at the very beginning of the 12 Noon calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Lewis Co. Hospice, PO Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367, or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Messages of sympathy/condolences at www.scanlonfuneral.com

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