Island Richards

I just wanted to share some of Grandpa Zorko’s history with you.

Grandpa, Private Zorko at the time, was in the fourth boat that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June, 6, 1944. The first three boats were destroyed. During the invasion, the U.S. 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions confronted the 352nd, the best of Germany’s coast divisions. The invasion almost failed, but with dedicated local leadership and a cost of over 2000 lives, the troops made it inland.

Many of Grandpa’s fellow soldiers, and superiors, were among those 2000. He was given a field promotion to the rank of Sergeant that day on Omaha beach.

He didn’t really talk about it for over sixty years, until he moved in with Mom, where he told her some of the stories about that time in his life that she had never heard before. He was so humble, he had earned service medals in the war that he never bothered to claim.

Encyclopædia Britannica has a site dedicated to the history of D-Day. You can find it here.

When J. Island was in France last summer, he got the chance to walk on Omaha Beach in Normandy, and learn a little about what happened there. He wrote Grandpa’s name in the sand, and took a picture of it. He gave the picture to Grandpa when he got back from the trip.

At Grandpa’s funeral, a large Honor Guard was present and he was given graveside military honors. He received a 3-volley salute, a bugler played Taps, and Mom was presented with the American Flag that had draped his casket. It was a deep and touching moment closing the final chapter in his long full life.

He was put to rest next to Grandma, where he will always be at peace. We will all miss them.

-Island

Some bad news to report. While I was away with my friends on my mountain biking vacation, Grandpa Zorko passed away. We all loved him and he will truly be missed.

Albert Zorko

Albert Zorko, 89, of Rock Springs passed away April 28, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County.

A longtime resident of Superior and Rock Springs, Zorko had been in ill health and living with his daughter for the past year and one half.

He was born on Aug. 30, 1918, in Dunkirk, Crawford, Kan., the son of the late Rudolf and Franziska Mondelj Zorko.

Zorko attended schools in Superior.

He married Lillian Dixon Zorko in Rock Springs on March 15, 1947, and she preceded him in death Jan. 4, 2005.

Zorko was a United States Army veteran of World War II. He served in the 29th Division, 110th Field Artillery in Battery B. The battles and campaigns he served in were in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

He was decorated with the Bronze Service Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, European, African and Middle Eastern Service Medal and American Defense Service Medal.

He worked in the D.O. Clark Coal Mines in Superior for 21 years and later worked at FMC as a miner for 23 years.

His interests included spending time outdoors and with his family.

Survivors include one son, Roger A. Zorko and wife Dorothy of Colorado; two daughters, Denise Z. Richards and husband Kelly of Rock Springs, Mary Ann Yuill and husband John of South Dakota; one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Zorko of Colorado; one brother Rudolph Zorko and wife Helen of Utah; one sister Jennie Ash of Green River; eight grandchildren Scott Richards and partner Justine, Island D. Richards and wife Teresa, A. Kelly Richards and wife Charity, Gary Zorko and wife Carla, Lya Johnson and husband Aaron, Janelle Zorko, Beth Zorko and Heather Stentz; 13 great-grandchildren, J. Island, Brandon, McKenna, Blaine and Xander Richards, Mikkayla Gonion, Adam Zorko, Scott and Kayla Franz, Elisha and Nakala Fry, Bridger Long and Rebecca Lehman; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one son Albert Lee Zorko, one grandson Troy Alan Zorko and one sister Frances Davis.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk Street in Rock Springs.

Military graveside services and interment will be in the Paul J. Wataha Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Vase Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and again on Friday one hour prior to services.

Pallbearers will be Roger Zorko, Kelly Richards, Scott Richards, Island Richards, A. Kelly Richards, J. Island Richards, Brandon Richards and Mike Large.