Viola Alice Zink

Viola Alice Zink, age 91, of Mt. Carroll, passed away on July 22, 2026, at Allure of Mt. Carroll. Born on February 26, 1935, in Savanna, Illinois, she was the daughter of George and Viola (Ewalt) Yenney.

On December 24, 1955, Viola married Donald Zink at First Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll, beginning a loving union that would bless them with three children.

Viola’s working life reflected her steady dedication and strong work ethic. She began her career in a Sterling factory, later spent several years at A & P Grocery in Mt. Carroll, and ultimately devoted 16 years to Good Samaritan (now Allure) as a CNA. Even while working outside the home, she embraced her role as homemaker with devotion and care.

A lifelong member of First Lutheran Church, Viola taught Sunday school and volunteered as a kindergarten room mother for the Mt. Carroll School District. Her commitment to service extended into the community, including her time volunteering at Heartland Pet Welfare.

Viola found joy in antiquing and refurbishing old furniture, bringing new life to pieces with history and character.

She will be remembered for her kindness, her faith, and her unwavering love for her family and community. Viola will be dearly missed by her husband of 70 years, Don; daughters, Dolly (Jack) Handel, of Colorado Springs and Diana (Tom) Hara, of Clarksville, TN; granddaughter, Desiree Cooper, of Colorado Springs; great-granddaughters, Anna Cooper and Addison Cooper; and sister, Georgia Tripp, of Sterling, IL. Viola is preceded in death by her parents, George and Viola; son, Dean Zink; brothers, Sonny (Marilyn Yenney, Cy (Bonnie) Yenney, and Keith Yenney; sister, Betty (Skip) Miller; and brother-in-law, Allen Tripp.

A funeral service will be held Friday, July 31, at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Mt. Carroll, at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Mt. Carroll.