Casson Alden (Tiny) Zook, 86

Casson Alden (Tiny) Zook passed away at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene on Feb. 6, 2013, at the age of 86. Tiny is predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Elizabeth Jane (Janie) Zook; his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by two sons, Robert G. Zook, his wife, Debbie and their children, Buddy and his wife Charlette, and Colton; and Michael R. Zook and his wife, Cora and their children.

Tiny was born in North Dakota in 1926 to Elmer and Grace Zook. His family later moved to the mountains south of Post Falls where he was raised. Tiny enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and proudly served his country in the European Theater.

Upon returning to North Idaho, Tiny joined the U.S. Forest Service and worked as a fire lookout in the St. Joe area. In 1948, he finally came down from the mountains and took a job with the newly built Kaiser Aluminum rolling mill at Trentwood, where he worked until his retirement in 1988. In 1950 Tiny bought a mountain top above Hauser Lake (Lost Acres) and "commenced to buying, breaking and trading horses." It was during one of these "horse trades" that he fell in love with the young cowgirl that would be his future wife. Tiny married the love of his life, Janie in 1956 and they lived on the mountain top until 1960, when they moved down to the valley of Post Falls to raise their two sons. Tiny loved spending time in the mountains of North Idaho with his family and his horses. He was a frustrated modern day cowboy who always felt that he was "born a hundred years too late."

Tiny was a private man and it was his wish to have no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kootenai Humane Society.