First Sergeant USMC Retired Joseph Stanley Zembroski, age 86, of Erie, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at Manchester Commons. He was born on November 12, 1930, in New Haven, Conn., the son of the late Joseph ("Jake") and Mary Casner Zembroski. Joseph enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and served with pride for 20 years. He was a veteran of the Korean War where he received two Purple Hearts and the Korean Service medal with 3 Bronze Stars and also served in Vietnam where he received the Vietnam Service medal with 3 Bronze Stars and the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat along with 2 Combat Action ribbons with gold star. Following a highly decorated career with the Marines, Joseph retired from there in 1968 and then took a position with the Yale University Police department. He worked there for 20 years until retiring in 1988, and then returned to Erie. Joe was a life member of several military organizations, including the National Board of Directors for the Marine Cadets of America, Marine Corps League - Lake Erie detachment, Marine Corps Association, Order of the Purple Heart and the Military Order of Devil Dogs (Pound 20). He also belonged to the VFW Post 4789, Elks Lodge 1414, American Legion Post 11, and Siebenbuerger Club, along with the Knights of Columbus, where he was a Fourth degree. Besides his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by a sister, Jean McDermott. He is survived by his wife, Joan Forrester Zembroski; a daughter, Cindy Zembroski of Erie; and a son, Gregory Zembroski of Portland, Ore. He is the brother of Helen Hitzfeld (Floyd) of San Antonio, Texas; Mary Cylke (Kurt) of Great Falls, Va.; Margie Savino of New Haven, Conn.; and Anthony Zembrowski of Branford, Conn. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th and Liberty St., on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial, with military honors, will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Marine Cadets of America, c/o Quinn Funeral Home, 728 W. 9th St., Erie, PA 16502. Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits