Brian Joseph Zapatka, 77, of Palm Coast, passed away on March 27, 2023, at the Select Specialty Hospital in Daytona Beach, FL, after a 26 day battle from complications of lung cancer surgery. He was born on January 3, 1946, in Manchester, Connecticut to Joseph John Zapatka Jr. and Dorothy McDonald Zapatka. He was baptized according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and received his first Holy Communion in May of 1954, later serving as an altar boy.

The family moved to Florida and he graduated from Riviera Beach High School before beginning his military career. He spent four years in the Navy cruising the world on the USS NOA before enlisting in the Army and retiring after 22 years of military service. He enjoyed watching Yellowstone, going to the beach, fishing, and cruising.

He is survived by his friend Marlene Seale, his cat, Candy, his brother, Kenneth Zapatka, his daughters, Jennifer Reed (Josh) and Annmarie Denham, and his grandchildren, Gabriel, Riley, Zofia, and Maxwell. He is also survived by his friends Pat and Jack Denvir and Bob and Toni Piselli.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Patricia and Jacqueline.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in his name to your favorite veterans' organization.