Kenneth Zaremba, 76
October 1, 1949 – May 3, 2026
Master Sergeant Kenneth Ronald Zaremba, U.S. Air Force, Retired, passed away peacefully and met the Lord on May 3, 2026.
He was born on Oct. 1, 1949, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Kenneth Richard Zaremba and Marjorie Foy Zaremba. He grew up in the greater Chicago area and graduated in 1968 from Irving Crown High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force after high school and had a distinguished career of 20 years active service beginning in 1968 with retirement in 1988.
His basic training was completed at Lakeland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. From there, he served one tour of duty in Vietnam, as well as other postings in Tampa, Fla., Selma, Ala., and Okinawa, Japan before being assigned to Columbus Air Force Base in 1979. He received many awards and medals for his patriotism and bravery, including Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with device, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four devices and Vietnam Service Medal.
MSgt Zaremba was selected to work with the prestigious USAF Thunderbirds from 1975-1978 displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of the Air Force in flyovers and air demonstrations. After military retirement, MSgt Zaremba began a 25-year career at Columbus Air Force Base as night manager for the civilian maintenance contractor.
He and his late wife, Jeanette Romanek Zaremba, made their home in Columbus and raised and educated their family there until her death in 2024. At that time, Kenneth moved to Tupelo to be near his son, Kenny. The family was longtime members of Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus, where they were active in the Parish ministries. After moving to Tupelo, he attended St. James Catholic Church. In his spare time, he enjoyed working on cars, fishing and reminiscing with family and friends.
A Funeral Mass will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo with Fr. Tim Murphy and Fr. Henry Shelton as co-communicants. Inurnment, with full military honors, will take place at the Church Columbarium after the service. Visitation will begin at noon on Saturday and continue until the 1 p.m. service. Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo is honored to be serving the Zaremba family and expressing their appreciation for his distinguished patriotism to our country.
Survivors include his children; Mary Kathryn Burns (Robert); Kenneth Ronald “Kenny” Zaremba, II; and Elizabeth Therese Walters (Brandon); his granddaughter, Lilia Burns; his brother, Bill Zaremba (Beverly); and three sisters, Barbara Zaremba Schacht, Martha Zaremba Cusack, and Peggy Zaremba Murray; along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Jeanette; his parents, Kenneth Richard and Marjorie Zaremba; his brother, John Richard Zaremba; and his dog, Sadie Mae.
Memorials can be made to Camp Friendship, c/o St. James Catholic Church, P. O. Box 734, Tupelo, MS. 38802. Condolences may be posted on MSgt Zaremba’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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