Albert Michael Zidek

Albert Michael Zidek was born July 21, 1935, in Lyndora, Pennsylvania to Martin and Anna Zidek. Albert passed away peacefully at his home with family by his side on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Ridgecrest, CA. He was 89.

After High School in Lyndora, he joined the US Navy on 21 July 1954 as an E1, Seaman Recruit, later advancing to Metal Worker. He attended Elementary welding and Advanced welding courses and deployed on Destroyer Tender USS Hamul and Destroyer USS Wilhoite. He proudly proclaimed that he was and always will be a "Tin Can" Sailor, having spent nearly all his active service attached to one of these ships. Albert also attended second Class Dive School working towards an underwater welder/salvage technician degree, when he experienced an ear drum blow out. He was Honorably discharged from active-duty June 19, 1958, as an ME2 (Metal Worker Second Class Petty Officer). His journey, following his service, led him to the shipyards of Long Beach, California where he lived and worked for a few years before hearing about job openings at NOTS (Naval Ordnance Test Station) China Lake.

He moved from Long Beach to Ridgecrest in 1965 where he met the love of his life Nancy Hinton of Louisiana. They married in 1967 and began expanding their family with the birth of their first daughter Anne, and a year later twin girls Monica and Margaret.

Albert enjoyed working in his shop with metal and wood. He loved to camp, hunt and fish with his family, in the Sierras, abundant with wildlife and creeks full of trout. With their growing family the household renovations and improvements also grew, giving Albert and Nancy opportunities to teach, mentor and guide their children to incredible work ethics. He taught them to not fear a hammer, shovel or any tool and more importantly how to be independent and learn from life's curve balls.

In June of 1972 while working as a civil service employee, on the base, he decided to join the US Navy Reserves as a Seabee Steelworker (SW1) achieving the rank of First-Class Petty Officer, while attached to RNMCB 17. He fully retired from Civil Service and the Reserves in 1990.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Nancy, brothers Martin, Eddie, Joey and sister Mary. He is survived by his three daughters Anne Zidek (Scoti), Monica, Margaret, Stepson William Hearne, Grand Children Mikayla, Khaleel, Cheyenne, Lakota and several hundred local kids and neighborhood, friends of their children, ALL were welcome at the Zidek residence.

Albert Michael Zidek will be rejoined with his beloved wife Nancy Hinton Zidek at Bakersfield National Cemetery.
Services for Albert will be held as follows:
- Wednesday June 4, 2025, from 4-7pm Visitation with Rosary starting at 5pm at Holland and Lyons Chapel.
- Thursday June 5, 2025, 11:00 Memorial Mass St. Ann Catholic Church
- Friday June 6, 2025, 12:30 Military Honors will be held at Bakersfield National Cemetery. The procession, led by PGR, will be departing Holland and Lyons at 0930.