1935
Walter
2012
Walter Z. Zyzda
January 1, 1935 — December 8, 2012
Sioux City | 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.
UNDERGROUND GALLERY
Watch your step
Slippery green metal
Iron steps
Enter "UNDERGROUND GALLERY"
Sign in
War zone
He held up a slice of raw turnip
I haven't had one of these
Since Krakow
His father worked for the Polish underground
He, brother, mother
Put in concentration camps
Large painting loomed
Beside me, before, above
Red blood, green guns
Men and women's faces
Mouth wide open
Hands reaching
Color smeared, streaked
Red, white, yellow, blue
I crawled under the fence
Stole turnips from gardens
We ate them raw, cold
Like the night
Smooth, stone sculptures
Entwined in agony, love
Colorado alabaster
White as the slice of turnip
I left the quiet white room
Walked carefully
Up the slippery green metal steps
Int daylight
Looked up at the white March moon
Jo Burke
Written in honor of Walter Zyzda after a family picnic when raw turnips were served.
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.
UNDERGROUND GALLERY
Watch your step
Slippery green metal
Iron steps
Enter "UNDERGROUND GALLERY"
Sign in
War zone
He held up a slice of raw turnip
I haven't had one of these
Since Krakow
His father worked for the Polish underground
He, brother, mother
Put in concentration camps
Large painting loomed
Beside me, before, above
Red blood, green guns
Men and women's faces
Mouth wide open
Hands reaching
Color smeared, streaked
Red, white, yellow, blue
I crawled under the fence
Stole turnips from gardens
We ate them raw, cold
Like the night
Smooth, stone sculptures
Entwined in agony, love
Colorado alabaster
White as the slice of turnip
I left the quiet white room
Walked carefully
Up the slippery green metal steps
Int daylight
Looked up at the white March moon
Jo Burke
Written in honor of Walter Zyzda after a family picnic when raw turnips were served.
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