Conrad Zynda

Conrad J. Zynda, 88, died peacefully in his sleep on March 24, 2012 at Mount View Care Center. "Connie" was born to Basil and Rose Zynda April 17, 1923 in Stevens Point, WI. Connie had a gift for music - at six years of age he was playing the harmonica on the local radio station and was paid in the form of 2 milkshakes and a free pass to the Sunday matinee. After high school, Connie joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he helped build the toboggan course on Rib Mountain and park shelters at various parks in central Wisconsin. After 1 year, the CCC shut down and Connie joined the Air Force where he worked as a crew chief for the B17 Bomber airplanes at locations including Florida, the Phillipines and Hawaii. Connie had always been athletic and he played on several football and baseball teams throughout his military career, acquiring the nicknames "Moose" and "Horse". After 4 years in the Air Force, he decided to try out for the Philadelphia Phillies. Out of 150 candidates, Connie was one of only 3 who made the team. Unfortunately, when the Phillies discovered he was 24 years old, they considered him "too old" to play professional baseball. After playing in triple AAA league baseball for a few years, Connie returned to his roots where he met and married the love of his life, Elizabeth C. Peskie. They were married in July of 1950 and raised 5 children. Connie took a job as an over-the-road truck driver for the Glendenning Company, for whom he worked for 33 years until the company closed. During his years on the road, Connie ran routes in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. When he was home on the weekends he enjoyed umpiring for the Wausau Legion baseball team at Athletic Park. Some of his favorite past times included fishing, watching the Brewers and the Packers, volunteering for church related activities for St. Matthew Catholic Church, playing the accordion, harmonica and the slide guitar, and telling jokes - he was never without a joke on the tip of his tongue. After church on Sunday, you could always find Connie and Father Robert Hunt exchanging jokes in the back of church. In his later years, Connie enjoyed league bowling and helping his friend Bob with his bait shop. In November 2010, Connie lost his best friend and wife of 60 years, Betty. Connie was never quite the same after Betty passed - the jokes were fewer and the spark in his eyes faded. His deep faith in the Lord and the love of his family sustained him in the months following Betty's death. Connie is most likely enjoying a cold brewski and a wonderful reunion with Betty in heaven right now. Survivors include his children Randy Zynda, Ringle, and his son Dale Zajakowski; Candy (Rick) Ostrowski, Wausau, and their children Jenny, Eau Claire, and Jeremy, Weston; Andy (Barb) Zynda, Wausau, and their son Wayne (Amy) Danczyik, Mosinee; and Renee (Monty) Scheel, Weston, and their children Clint, Weston, Chloe, Seattle, WA, and Calli, Wausau. He is further survived by his sister, Bernie Prondzinski, and brother Dave Zynda. Connie was preceded in death by his wife Betty, daughter Sandy Gaulke, a sister Gerry Sward and a brother Basil Zynda. The funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Robert Thorn will preside. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may call Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Humane Society of Marathon County or the New Life Pet Adoption Center, Marathon, WI. The family would like to thank the staff of Mount View Care Center's Southern Reflections and Legacies Garden Side, and Dr. Kay Gruling. The compassion and patience shown to Connie was absolutely amazing. The family would also like to thank Aspirus Hospice Care for their assistance, although very brief, in keeping Connie comfortable in his last days.