ZEZULKA, Joseph Martin – 79, of London, Ontario, and beloved husband of the late Deborah Joan Oates, passed away July 9, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Hospice after a short battle with leukemia.  Joe was born on March 20, 1945, to Alois Zezulka and Mary Motycka, in Raymond, Alberta. He is survived by his siblings, Jerry (Paulette), Ron (Sally), and Shirley (Roger). He was a loving father of Gwen, Geoffrey (Lada), Gaby, and Nico, and a doting grandfather of Clara, Elliot, and Kvitka.  After earning his PhD at Queens University, Joe had a distinguished 39-year career as a professor of English at Western University, where he was loved by his students for his lively lectures in Canadian literature and magic realism.  An avid fisherman, reader, gardener, chef, and painter, Joe was also a fan of movies and music of all kinds, and proudly supported the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs. He was blessed with many dear friends who, with his family, will remember his wonderful dinner parties, his kindness, his tremendous sense of humour, and his great storytelling abilities.  A memorial service will be held at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James Street at Richmond, London on Tuesday, July 16^th at 1pm, with a wake to follow at his home, from 2-7pm.  Joe will be interred beside Debbie at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Pointe Claire, Quebec. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice.