Legion auxiliary's annual auction will benefit longtime city employee Jack Zornes
Jack Zornes' youngest daughter is expecting her first child in May. He's determined to live long enough to meet his fifth grandchild.
The Woodlawn Avenue resident, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime city employee, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November. Because of a genetic mutation, the cancer is resistant to treatment, said his wife, Lori.
"He just went for regular labs and they called and said you need to get to the emergency room right away; your platelets are dangerously low," she said. They suspect he had a health issue because he was tired all the time, but they had thought it was something minor, perhaps a vitamin deficiency. "You don't think that's what you're going to hear."
Zornes has been named the beneficiary of the American Legion Post 181 Auxiliary's annual Make or Bake Auction, which takes place this Saturday at the post, 123 E. Rensselaer St. He said he plans to attend the event and is hoping old friends will stop by to say hello.
Like the couple's three daughters — Kristena, Jessica and Lindsay — Jack Zornes attended Bucyrus schools. Lori, his wife of 38 years, is a Mohawk High School graduate.
'This kind of just happened out of nowhere'
Zornes, who served in the U.S. Army Security Agency from 1972 to 1973, worked for the City of Bucyrus for 28 years. As an equipment operator and driver; , he drove a city garbage truck for 25 years. Before that, he worked for the police department as a dog warden and utility person, he said. He retired after having a heart attack and triple bypass surgery about four years ago. Since then, he had been in good health.
"This kind of just happened out of nowhere," said his oldest daughter, Kristena Cazzell.
Zornes originally sought treatment at a Columbus hospital, and was told he had just two months to live, his daughter said. Participating in a clinical trial was a possibility, but there were no guarantees.
Instead, he's chosen to be treated at OhioHealth Marion Cancer Center, which opened in October, and said he's been very pleased with his care. He goes for platelet transfusions several times a week.
"It's been almost every day," Kristena said.
Next week, it will be every day, as Jack starts his next round of chemotherapy, her mother added.
Loris Zornes recently started a new job at Avita Health System's medical records department, so the daughters have been taking turns keeping him company during treatment.
"If he didn't have any treatment, they said two months, maybe three," Lori said. "But even with treatment, they don't think over six. And it's already been a month since he started chemo, so..."
"I want to go further than that," Jack said.
"He's determined he's going to make it longer than that," Kristena said. "Because you know my sister Lindsay's due May 22, so he he wants to make that, to meet his granddaughter. And we have to go fishing up at the lake."
The family has approached the cancer battle "the way we do everything; we all stick together," Lori Zornes said.
"We're all very close; very, very close," Kristena said.
All three said they want to thank the community for the support they've been receiving so far, and the auxiliary for selecting Jack as the beneficiary of this year's event.
"We're very grateful that they chose him," Kristena said.
Make or Bake Auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Auxiliary member Brandy Robertson said the Chili Cook-Off and Make or Bake Auction has been an annual event at the American Legion post for 23 years — legion members organize the chili event while the auxiliary handles the auction. It's always on the last Saturday in January.
Auxiliary members try to help "something or someone that has a need in the community — we try to stay as local as we can," Robertson said.
"People bring baked items, they bring homemade items. We have brand new items that are donated," Robertson said. Local businesses donate items, as do local veterans' organizations, churches and others. This year, auxiliary members used a grant from Thrivent Financial to purchase new items for the event.
This year's auction will include a "beautiful Amish quilt" that was donated by someone who was helped by the auxiliary during a time of need in the past, she said. "They're giving back."
Auction items can be dropped off at the American Legion Post 181 after 2 p.m. Saturday. If people need to make arrangements to drop off items earlier, they can contact Robertson, 419-563-6177.
Monetary donations can be sent to the the auxiliary at the legion post's address, 123 E. Rensselaer St., Bucyrus, OH 44820. Missie Striker of Castle Auctions and Appraisals LLC will serve as auctioneer for the event.
"She runs it as an auction, with the bidding," Robertson said. "And sometimes we have bidding wars that get into high dollars. And it's so much fun."
Robertson said she's seen a cake bring in as much as $75. Last year, there was a "huge bidding war" for a couple of items that ended up selling for more that $200 each.
"People realize that they're doing this for a benefit, for a good cause," she said.
The event is open to the public. The judging for the chili cook-off starts at 5 p.m.; the auction begins at 6:30 p.m.
"Everybody should bring their money, open up their pocketbooks and help with this for Jack," Robertson said. "It's a fun evening."
ggoble@gannett.com
419-559-7263
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Legion auxiliary's annual auction Saturday will benefit Jack Zornes
