Walter Z. Zyzda 1935-2012

ZYZDA VISIA BURKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/28/2012 at 22:28:38

Sioux City Journal
12 December 2012

Walter Z. Zyzda, 77, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Nativity Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Steven McLoud, celebrant, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Walter was born Jan. 1, 1935, in Stryj, Poland, the son of Mieczyslawa (Visia) and Jozef Zyzda. He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1948. He attended Sioux Rapids High School, graduating in May of 1952. Following this, he briefly attended Morningside College and then enlisted in the Army in 1955-1962. After the Army, he became an apprentice electrician at Casler Electric. In his career he also worked for Thompson Electric and retired from Chieftan Electric in 2002.

Walter married Marilyn Burke in 1962 in Sioux City and spent his life in the Sioux City area. Together they had four children. Walter enjoyed playing, coaching and refereeing soccer. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working outside. In his retirement he spent time stamp collecting, fixing and refinishing furniture and tinkering in the garage.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, David of Sioux City and Brian of Bozeman, Mont.; and two daughters, Leslie and her husband J.P. Martin of Sioux City and Cynthia Zyzda and her partner Joel Allen of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and his faithful dog, Sammy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Zyzda