Cloudy, 53° F
(Mar. 9, 2009)
J. Meredith “Zed” Zednick died at Powell Valley Healthcare on Monday, March 9.
Zed was born Jan. 15, 1923 in Greybull to Joseph and Wilma Zednick. He graduated from Greybull High School in 1941. He attended a year of vocational school in Laramie, before going to work for Ford Motor Company.
Zed married Corinne McHugh on Sept. 5, 1942. Six months later, he entered the armed forces. He received his training in field artillery in Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana. He was assigned to the 965th Core Battalion Field Artillery.
In April 1944, he was sent to England. Later, with the Third and First Armies, he participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Battle of the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. For his part in these campaigns, Zed received the European African Middle Eastern Service medal with five battle stars.
Zed was discharged from the service Sept. 28, 1945. In December 1945, he was hired by Marathon Oil Pipeline as a welder, foreman and safety engineer for the next 35 years. Zed was sent to many places as chief inspector on projects.
Corinne accompanied him to Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Zed also worked on projects in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church since he was 14 years old, a lifetime member of the Elks and a past member of the VFW.
Zed loved tinkering. He could fix or build anything. He built the family’s first travel camper from the ground up.
Zed especially enjoyed camping and spending time in the Big Horn Mountains. His family spent vacations and weekends in the Big Horns for 50 years. His sons have always said those were the times they remembered best — fishing and hunting with their father. Zed really enjoyed the outdoor life.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Corinne; one son, JosephM. Zednick, and his wife, Mary, of Arizona; daughter-in-law Roesmary Zednick of Texas; two grandsons, Brian (Pam) Zednick of Arlington, Wash., and Casey (Yukari) Zednick of Marysville, Wash.; two granddaughters, Carrie Zednick of Arlington, Wash., and Merrideth Gibson of Dallas, Texas; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his parents and one sister, Elise Stearns.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held this summer. Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
