Violetta (Vi) Zysk, 98

The world lost one of the few remaining members of our Greatest Generation with the passing of our mother, Violetta (Vi) Mary Zysk, on May 24. Born to Carl and Gertrude (Welch) McDougall in Sharon, Pa., on Feb. 13, 1927, Vi joined her older brother, Rolland, and spent her youth in Pennsylvania. 

After meeting a World War II veteran on a country hayride, Vi married our father, John Zysk, in 1946, and she began a life as an Army wife while Dad pursued a 20-year career in the military. She demonstrated the resilience required of a military spouse, persevering through frequent moves and periodic separations while raising a family. Various postings took Vi and her family to multiple locations across the United States and twice to post-war Germany.

Upon retirement from the military in 1966, it was Vi’s idea to move to Coeur d’Alene after seeing the area during a period living in Spokane. Following nearly a month of camping at Beauty Creek awaiting completion of their house, Vi and the family became early residents of the Fairway Hills neighborhood, where the streets were yet to be paved. 

Settling into a home where she resided for 55 years, Vi was civic-minded in the town she embraced. Vi sought various opportunities to volunteer and provide leadership to multiple organizations such as the Girl Scouts, the American Red Cross — Service to Military Families, the North Idaho and Bonner County fairs and 30 years with the Museum of North Idaho.

Pursuing an interest in genealogy, Vi traced her family lineage to seven patriots of the American Revolution. This began a 50+ year membership in the Lt. George Farragut chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served in multiple local and state leadership roles. Additionally, these familial interests took her on a visit to the ancestral homeland of her McDougall clan in Scotland.

Always up to date on current affairs by her thorough study of the daily newspaper, Vi was eager to observe the latest developments in the community. A drive about town would generate an interesting conversation about the past, present and future of the town she called home. 

Vi was preceded in death by her husband, John, and is survived by her children, Larry, Sherry and Tom (Lynne); grandchildren Jay Scarborough, Allison Scarborough, Peter (Allison), Eric and Hailey (Doug) Logan; and great-grandchildren Fox and Jackson.

Vi’s family would like to extend our thanks for the care and companionship that she received from her caregivers and neighbors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Vi’s honor may be made to the Museum of North Idaho.

A graveside service will be held in the veteran’s section of Forest Cemetery at 1011 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, Friday, May 30, at 10 a.m.

    Zysk