Sylvester Zimny

Sylvester "Pete" Zimny, 90 year old resident of Royalton, MN died Wednesday, January 27 at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, February 1 at 10:30 A.M. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, MN with Father Laurn Virnig officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 P.M. on Sunday at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Royalton, MN and from 8:30-10:00 A.M. on Monday at the funeral home. Parish Prayers will be said at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday. Military rites will be conducted by the Royalton American Legion Post #137. Sylvester "Pete" Zimny was born December 31, 1919 on the Zimny farm in Bellevue Township two miles north of Royalton, MN. After completing his schooling in 1933 from Royalton Public School, he worked on the family farm. At the age of 21, Pete left the farm to work on an ore boat on the Great Lakes; he stayed there until the shipping season closed just before Christmas in 1941. Pete was drafted into the Army at Fort Snelling in Minnesota on January 26, 1942. Pete was part of the North African Invasion on November 8, 1942. After the African Campaign was over, he was put in a guard company in Tunisia guarding Italian POW's, following which he was made an MP and took care of traffic and army installations. He was discharged October 2, 1945. Pete has the Mediterranean Theatre of Operation Ribbon with the Arrowhead for invasions, two battle stars for the African Campaign, the Combat Infantrymen's Badge, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Following his discharge, Pete worked on highway construction for many years, mainly finishing cement. In 1959, Pete bought the Royalton Lumber Yard. He was united in marriage to Elaine M. Schwab at Holy Angels Church in St. Cloud, MN on May 7, 1960. The Zimny's continued to operate the lumber yard until 1980 when, because of Pete's health problems, the yard was sold. Since his retirement, Pete has volunteered on various city and church projects. He served as a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. Pete enjoyed woodworking, especially his Diamond Willow Canes, gardening, yard work, planting black walnut and pine trees, cutting and polishing agates. His greatest enjoyment was his time spent with his grandchildren and attending numerous activities with them. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Elaine of Royalton, MN; sons, Paul Zimny and wife, Peggy, Jim Zimny and wife, Penny, Ed Zimny and wife, Carolyn, all of Royalton, MN; grandchildren, Greyson, Ethan, Ella, Mia, Preston, Lauren, Nolan, Peter and Alex Zimny; sisters-in-law, Clara Zimny of Royalton, MN, Joan Hennek of Foley, MN and Geri Schwab of St. Joseph, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Dylla) Zimny; siblings, Steve Zimny, Gertrude Marshik, Isadore Zimny, Ignatius Zimny, Jerome Zimny and two infant sisters.