Walter Allen Zischke

Walter passed away on November 24, 2020, at the age of 73. Walter was born in Keokuk, Iowa, on August 15, 1947, son of Alton and Elnora (Raab) Zischke. Walter grew up in a one parent family since age 3 after his father died from cancer. He has an older brother Lester and a younger sister Julia (Zischke) Beyerle, (also known as Judy). Walter attended high school in Zeeland, MI. He went on to MSU following in his brother’s footsteps and enrolled in Engineering. He later changed his major to Natural Resources. Once he graduated with a bachelor’s degree, he applied to the State of Michigan Transportation Department, MDOT, where he worked as a Transportation Planner for 32 years. He retired in 2002.

Walter met Judith Chapman Zischke (also known as Judy) in 1980. Walter never made hasty decisions, so it took him over 3 years to propose marriage. During those years and after their marriage they traveled extensively around the U.S. and Canada. They both loved hiking and backpacking. By 1983 Walter did propose, and in 1984 they eloped to one of their favorite vacation spots in the Canadian Rockies. They were married outdoors on the shores of Lake Louise with glaciers and mountains looming overhead. They spent their honeymoon backpacking in the Canadian Rockies with “newly-weds” signs posted on their backpacks. After Walter’s retirement in 2002, Judy and Walter took a long – awaited RV camping trip around the Southern and Western U.S. for 9 months. By this age, shorter hikes and their own RV replaced their backpacks. Walt and Judy returned home in 2003 to assist their adopted children in caring for grandkids.

Walt and Judy made many shorter summer trips in their RV and included various grandkids over the years. One of their favorite travel spots was always Yellowstone National Park. They were happy to return there many times to allow their children and grandchildren the experience of mountains, waterfalls, buffalo, elk, bear, and wolves in the wild. Nature and the out of doors were always where Walter wanted to be.

Walter loved taking pictures of everything in nature which he witnessed. All scenic photos on display in this Memorial were taken by Walter, himself. Many have been framed and displayed throughout our home. Often Judy, his wife, wondered if he should have been a professional photographer instead of working at MDOT…?!

Walter also was an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast!! Auto shows were his favorite pastime. He attended these whenever he could, all over the country. During his adult life, he would attend as many car shows as he could get to in and around Michigan. As we traveled across the country, he would also check out car museums and shows from state to state. His wife Judy would jokingly say about Walt: “He never looks at other women going by, he only looks at cars or motorcycles!” Many of Walt’s car show pictures are also on display in this Memorial along with cars that he had owned.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents plus numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides of his family. Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife, Judith (Chapman) Zischke, Brother Lester, Sister Julia (Zischke) Beyerle, numerous Raab and Zischke cousins and three grandsons: Alexander, Nathan, and Nicholas Mitchell.

Donations may be made in Walter’s name to:

Feeding America: US Hunger Relief Organization.

Or to: Gift of Life - Michigan - 1 866 500 5801

Walter had signed himself up decades ago with Gift of Life to be an organ/tissue/bone marrow donor upon his death. This organization does scientific & medical research which improves needed medications for our future. They do not stop working even with our coronavirus pandemic. They also link with other agencies who are awaiting bone and organ donations. Walter’s family hopes, as Walter did too, that he may have been of help to others at this time.