Val Philip Zinke

Val Philip Zinke was born on August 9, 1940, in Carroll, Iowa, to Annis Marie (Krogh) and Floyd Edwin Zinke. He passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at The Springs Senior Living Community in Bozeman, Montana.

Val was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ardyth Faye (Zinke) Barber; and his first wife, Kathleen Hauer Zinke. He is lovingly remembered by his children: Erica J. Zinke and her husband Tim of Nashville, Tennessee; Christopher F. Zinke and his wife Kelly of Denver, Colorado; and Allyson Marie (Zinke) Hand and her husband Jonathan of Bozeman, Montana. He also leaves behind his grandchildren—Colton and Kate Zinke of Denver, and William and Ada Hand of Bozeman.

Val was baptized and confirmed at Exira Lutheran Church and graduated with the Exira High School Class of 1958, where he especially enjoyed playing football. He grew up on the family farm in Greeley Township, where his parents raised grain and livestock and became well known for their champion hogs. The farm remained close to Val’s heart throughout his life.

On April 2, 1962, Val enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in Omaha, Nebraska. With his characteristic humor, he often recalled being “promised California,” which he first glimpsed through barbed wire during recruit training in San Diego. After training, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and soon found himself deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was aboard the second plane to land at Guantanamo Bay, where his unit spent months in the rugged landscape of western Cuba. Later selected as a special guard company, they considered themselves fortunate to spend the winter in the warm Caribbean climate.

A skilled marksman, Val became a rifle instructor at Camp Lejeune. He later spent six months on a Mediterranean deployment—an unforgettable experience for a young man from rural Iowa. Before his discharge on April 1, 1965, he also assisted with officer infantry training at Quantico, Virginia. Val continued his service in the Navy Reserves for several years, traveling to places such as Rota, Spain; Naples, Italy; and Pearl Harbor, before fully retiring.

After his military service, Val attended the University of Wyoming, earning a degree in Agricultural Business. In the mid-1970s, he returned to Exira with his young family to help manage the family farm when his father became ill. Following his father’s passing in 1978, Val moved his family to the Denver area.

In Colorado, Val built a diverse and adventurous career. He worked in real estate and as an electrician before starting his own electrical contracting business in Vail, where he renewed his love of skiing. He spent many years as a ski instructor at Vail and Beaver Creek, sharing his enthusiasm for the mountains with others. Still drawn to the land, Val later purchased an orchard in Palisade, where he raised peaches, pears, plums, and apricots, and eventually established a vineyard supplying local wineries.

Val had a deep appreciation for travel and adventure. He explored much of Europe, visited China, Japan and traveled throughout North America, the Caribbean, and beyond.

In his later years, Val found great joy in spending his winters in Costa Rica, where he could trade the cold for warmth and sunshine. It became a special place for him—one where he formed lasting friendships, embraced new adventures, and truly enjoyed life at a slower, sunnier pace. Even while he was away, he stayed closely connected to home—never missing a Broncos game, always making time to listen to his youngest daughter on the radio, and calling home whenever he could.

In recent years, Val made his home in southwestern Montana, where he lived close to his youngest daughter and her family. He cherished this time together, enjoying daily life with them, exploring the area’s rich history, and being present for the lives of his two youngest grandchildren.

The family will gather to celebrate and remember Val’s life in Exira, Iowa, on Saturday, April 18th. If you would like to attend, please feel free to reach out to the family for more details—we would be grateful to have you join us.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you raise a beer in Val’s honor and wish him godspeed on his journey home.