1945 - 1992
scan from the 1981 Gray Centennial book
Looking for original military photos to scan of Lyle.
Taken from the 1981 Gray Centennial book
Lyle E. Zinke, son of Clarence and Lela (Oakley) Zinke, was born March 22, 1945. He graduated from Manning High School in 1963 and
enlisted in the United States Army in October, 1963, and was inducted into service on November 4, 1963.
He received basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was assigned to 15th Specialist Battalion, 4th training brigade U.S.A.T.C., Infantry, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
He received extensive training in a Field Communication Crewman Course, graduated April 23, 1964.
Lyle was then assigned to headquarters company, 2nd Battalion 9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.
July 1956, P.F.C. Zinke was with the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division Airborne Mobile "Flying Horsemen," Fort Benning.
The Cavalry received special training in guerilla type warfare. This Division of 16,000 troops left for Vietnam August 17, 1965, landing at
Quion and carried by helicopters to the Central Highlands near Ahn Ke. His service here was in communications and as driver for the Battalion Communication Officer in the field.
He was the first Audubon County serviceman to be sent to Vietnam.
Enlistment time ended, he was returned to the States and discharged at Oakland, California, November 4, 1965. He was engaged in farming after his discharge.
Graveside funeral services for Lyle Eugene Zinke were held Tuesday, February 25, 1992 at the Ninnekah Cemetery, Ninnekah, Oklahoma, with the Rev. Mike Gabby of the Christ Our Saviour Lutheran Church of Chickasha officiating.
Lyle Eugene was born March 22, 1945 at Audubon, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Lela
(Oakley) Zinke. He died unexpectedly at his home at Ninnekah, Oklahoma, on Saturday,
February 22, 1992 at the age of 46 years and 11 months.
Lyle was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln Township in
Audubon County.
He attended grade school at the Gray Consolidated School and graduated from Manning
High School with the class of 1963.
Lyle enlisted in the armed services in November of 1963 and served in the Vietnam War. He was a highly decorated Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, following which he became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He farmed in both Audubon and Carroll County until 1978, at which time he moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma. He became a truck driver for Farmland Industries where he was still employed at the time of his death. On February 16, 1982 he married Darlene Keys in Chickasha and moved to their home in Ninnekah.
He was preceded in death by a stepson, Ricky Ryan. Survivors include: his wife, Darlene; two sons: Scott and Kyle Zinke; three daughters: Sondra, Monica, and Michelle Zinke, all of Audubon; two stepsons: Marlin and his wife, Becky, and Randy and his wife, Kathy; five step-grandchildren; his parents, Clarence and Lela Zinke of Gray, Iowa; two brothers: Larry and his wife, Diane, of LeSueur, Minnesota, and Steve and his wife, Becky, of Corning, Iowa; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.