Albert William Zemko

Born in Cleveland, OH, July 30, 1918; died in Seattle, WA, January 25, 2008. My Dad grew up in Chicago, IL and joined the Coast Guard in 1937. That year, he met my mother, Maxine, during a stop in Astoria, OR. They were married in 1939. Dad served on the USS Leonard Wood, the USS Onendaga and several other ships, on voyages to Japan, the Bering Sea, Casablanca, South America and South Africa. On November 7, 1940, he was aboard the ship that passed under the Tacoma Narrows bridge, one hour before Galloping Gertie fell. After the War, my folks brought their infant daughter to Seattle, where Dad became a refrigeration mechanic, spending his entire career working for W.E. Stone & Co. Beginning in the '60's, he spent much of his time servicing the big fruit warehouses in Eastern Washington, ranging up and down the Columbia River Valley. Once he retired at the end of 1980, he and Mom made many trips in their RV with friends and family. After Mom died in 1983, Dad continued to travel and met his second wife, Evelyn, on an RV excursion. Dad moved to Spokane when they were married in 1987, and they continued to RV until old age finally caught up with them. One of Dad's greatest joys was in being Grandpa to Evelyn's five grandchildren, from the time they were small, until they grew up. After Evelyn died in 2003, Dad moved back to Seattle to live with me. My close friends, Brian, Kelly, Lennie and John, became his close friends and we had many good times and excellent meals together. My Dad was a good son, husband, and father. He decided early on, that just because his only child was a girl, he wouldn't let that deprive him of enjoying the things a Dad does with a son. So in an era when most girls were stuck with dolls and playing house, I got to do interesting, active things. One of my best memories is of sitting on an engine block, pounding pistons into the holes while my Dad connected them below. And I still like the sound of a ratchet wrench. Predeceased by his parents, Lambert and Mary Zemko; his sister, Irene Zemko Priest; his first wife, Maxine M. Johnson Zemko; and his second wife, Evelyn Conley Stauffer Zemko. He is survived by his daughter, Maxine A. Zemko; his brother, Robert (Wanda) Zemko; and his nephew, Michael (Beverly) Zemko. Because my Dad's brother and sister-in-law are too frail to travel, and because he outlived all of his same-generation friends, he requested no Services be held. Near the end of his life, he came to appreciate the value of animals in our lives, therefore, in lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to Pasado's Safe Haven, P. O. Box 171, Sulton, WA 98294. Godspeed, Daddy. I love you. ~ Maxine Albert "Mitzie" Zemko. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey, Seattle, WA, in care of arrangements.