Master Sergeant John Jay Zeh, growing up in a large family, protected his younger sisters and he couldn’t wait to finish high school to protect his country.

He died peacefully at home in Maple Hill, North Carolina on Saturday, July 23, 2016, in the loving arms of his wife, Dyana, surrounded by his children. He was 59.

The son of Clinton Jay Zeh of Feura Bush, and the late Jane (née McNay) Zeh, he was was born in Albany on Sept. 21, 1956.  The family had four boys, the oldest siblings, all Boy Scouts, and two girls; Mr. Zeh was the third oldest child.

The Zehs lived on Third Street in Albany where the kids would play with neighbors in outdoor games like “Red Rover,” his sister Deborah Lee recalled. “There were no cell phones, no nothing. It was more family oriented.”

The family also had a camp on the Mohawk River, where Mr. Zeh enjoyed the outdoors.

“He was very protective of his sisters and of the whole family,” said Ms. Lee.

She recalled how, when she was young, she was at Guptill’s Arena, for roller-skating, she was bullied by a boy older than she. “My brother calmly spoke to him. He said, ‘You leave my sister alone.’” And he did. “After that, I had no problem with him,” Ms. Lee said.

Years later, when she was grown up, Mr. Zeh met the man who was to be Ms. Lee’s husband. “When he first met him, he said, ‘Let me tell you one thing, ‘You better take care of her, because if you don’t’ — being in the service,” she said, her brother knew how to make the point strongly.

Mr. Zeh, who was “outgoing and loved to talk,” his sister said, attended Catholic schools until 1976. He was to graduate from Cardinal McCloskey High School in Albany that year but, just before, he joined the United States Marine Corps, earning his general equivalency diploma.

“He wanted to go and fight for his country,” said Ms. Lee. His favorite song was “Ballad of the Green Beret,” she said. “Fighting soldiers from the sky, fearless men who jump and die,” the lyrics begin. “Men who mean just what they say, the brave men of the Green Beret.”

“He was a Marine,” she said.

Mr. Zeh had always loved working on automobiles, she said, and, after he joined the Marines, he became a motor transportation maintenance chief. He retired from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in 2000 from the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion 2nd Marine Division II Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Recon Creed says, in part, “Never shall I forget the principles I accepted to become a Recon Marine: Honor, Perseverance, Spirit, and Heart. A Recon Marine can speak without saying a word and achieve what others can only imagine.” The battalion's motto is “Swift, Silent, Deadly.”

During his service career, Mr. Zeh was decorated many times — with an Army Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal, a Good Conduct Medal, a Sea Service Deployment ribbon, a National Defense Service Medal, a Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation, two Certificates of Commendation, a Meritorious Mast, a Letter of Appreciation, a Rifle Marksmanship Badge, and a Pistol Sharpshooter Badge. He was jump and dive qualified with 998 career jumps.

Mr. Zeh was an avid hunter all his life, starting at a very young age with his father, brothers, uncles, and cousins. Continuing through his adulthood, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

“On Thanksgiving, he’d get up early and hunt with his uncles and cousins. They’d come home, and dinner would be ready to eat. Then they’d fall asleep in the living room,” she said with a laugh.

Years later, Mr. Zeh enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children. He took on the art of taxidermy to display his prized game.

“He was a good father,” said Ms. Lee. “He was always there for his kids. He taught them right from wrong. They are so polite. He just raised good children.”

She also said, “He was very close to our mom.” She died before him. “She will be with him now,” Ms. Lee said through tears, “and guide him up there.”

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John Jay Zeh is survived by his father, Clinton Jay Zeh, and his wife, Frances, of Feura Bush; his wife, Dyana (née Anastasi) Zeh of Maple Hill, North Carolina; his children: Christopher and Ashley (née  Golden) Rikard of Crawley, West Virginia, Clinton Jay “CJ” Zeh II and Andrea (née Osteen) Zeh of Batesburg, South Carolina; Veronica (née Cormier) and Ron Dunlap of Panama City Beach, Florida, Bryan and Nikki (née Kubin)Cormier of Raleigh, North Carolina, Cynthia and Bobby Goff of Aiken, South Carolina, and Doug Fongemie Jr. of Bristol, Connecticut.

He is also survived by his grandchildren; Peyton and Reagan Rikard, Christopher Zeh, Holly and Jacoby Blizzard, Kaylee, Hanna and Rylee Goff, and Owen Dunlap; his siblings William Zeh of Bethlehem, Michael Zeh and Judy Werking of Slingerlands, Kenneth and Mary (née Harris) Zeh of Ravena, Diane (née Zeh) and Mark Donahue of Colonie, and Deborah (née Zeh) and Michael Lee of Albany; and by many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

Calling hours are on July 28 at Jones Funeral Home, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and the funeral service is Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville, North Carolina with Chaplin Parthena Skipper officiating. Burial will follow at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Mourners may leave condolences online at www.jonesfh.org.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer