Joe Kazyaka

Joseph "Joe" Theodore Kazyaka, 41, of Mountain Home, died at home on Aug. 11, 2008, with his family at his side.

A memorial service, with military honors by the Idaho National Guard, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Joe was born June 9, 1967, to John P. Kazyaka and Lois G. (Richards) Kazyaka in Honolulu, Hawaii. Joe was raised in San Diego, Calif., and graduated from Madison High School in 1985.

Joe joined the Marine Corps September 1985 and was stationed in Hawaii, North Island, Camp Pendleton and Quantico.

Joe met and married his wife, Stefanie Hall, in San Diego. They were married Sept. 13, 1991. Joe and Stefanie have two daughters, Margret, who was born in August 1993 in San Diego, and Zara, who was born in October 1995 in Bethesda, Md.

While stationed at Quantico in 1996 Joe separated from the Marine Corps. Joe wanted to move his family back to San Diego where he could surf and canoe in the ocean with his best friends but Stefanie persuaded Joe to move to her home town, Mountain Home.

It took Joe several years and hunting trips with his father-in-law to truly appreciate Idaho, his family said.

Joe began working for the U.S. Post Office in September 1997 and in the same month joined the Army National Guard. Joe served with the 116th Brigade Combat Teamin Iraq from June 2004 to November 2005. Joe retired from the Guard in October 2007. Joe continued to work at the post office until May 2008 when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Joe is survived by: his wife, Stefanie; daughters Margret and Zara of Mountain Home; his father, John Kazyaka of San Diego; his sister, Carrie Kazyaka of San Diego; a brother, nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Lois Kazyaka.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Joe's name to the Idaho State Veteran's Hospital, 500 W. Fort, Boise, ID 83702, or Legacy Home Hospice, 680 S. Progress Ave, Suite 2A, Meridian, ID 83642.