Bobby Jackson Zyriek

Bobby Jackson Zyriek, of Spanish Fort, AL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. He was   79 years old.  Bobby was born in the town of Summerdale, AL on March 27, 1934.  The third of six children of Frank and Hazel Zyriek, he grew up on a farm, and attended Fairhope High School, where he played tight end on the football team and made the girls swoon with his good looks.  Bobby joined the Alabama National Guard while still in high school.  Shortly thereafter, his unit was called to active duty, and he fought in the Korean War where he won the Bronze Star for valor.  He served in the Guard for 37 years, including five years on active duty during the Korean War and the Berlin Crisis.  After high school, he was employed by Riviera Utilities.  Over the next 45 years he rose from a new hire on the right of way crew to Line Foreman of the Western Division, seeing the company grow from a few dozen employees to a major utility provider.  In 1988, Bobby Zyriek retired with the rank of Master Sergeant from the National Guard, receiving numerous awards and decorations.  Twelve years later, having climbed thousands of utility poles and responded to countless natural disasters and outages, he retired from Riviera Utilities.  But Bobby could never really be called a retiree.  He was always busy. From little league coaching to taking his sons and their friends fishing to endless home improvement projects, Bobby was willing, active, and generous with his time.  A longtime member of the Lions Club in Fairhope, AL, he served in every capacity there, including President, receiving the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for lifetime achievement in 2012.  Bobby liked NASCAR, Oldsmobiles, Patsy Cline, and fried chicken.  He enjoyed a good poker game and a fine story.  But his most passionate pastime was Alabama football.  There was no more avid Tide fan than Bobby Zyriek.  He was a member of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the Red Elephants Club.  He savored every game, relishing the wins and anguishing over the losses, patiently waiting during the off-season for the first kickoff and another chance at a championship.  Bobby could talk to anybody, and did.  He worked hard, played with enthusiasm, and laughed often.  His friends were numerous, his family was devoted, and his glass was always more than half full.  We should all be so fortunate. Bobby Zyriek was preceded in death by his brothers Gary and Donald Zyriek.  He is survived by his loving wife, Karen Sue Zyriek, former wife Ida B. Zyriek, sisters Janette Zyriek, Anna Bell, and Cecilia Jones, and children Robbie Zyriek, Bruce Zyriek, Jennifer Manley and Jeff Hicks.  He also leaves behind five grandchildren--Maya Zyriek; Emma Zyriek, Melissa Zahn, Matthew Manley, and Casey Nunn; and a great grandson, Trent Zahn.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held, Monday, January 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Wolfe Bayview Memorial Chapel in Fairhope.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Fairhope Lions Club, PO Box 317, Fairhope AL, 36533.