George E. Zak

He was born on June 8, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois as the third of five children of Charles and Anna Rosol, and grew up in Berwyn. He married Helen Gasper on Thanksgiving Day in 1938, and they moved to Lisle and St. Joan of Arc Parish in 1950.

He worked for 40 years at Electromotive Division of General Motors in LaGrange, IL before retiring in 1977. He participated in many activities at St. Joan of Arc Church including coaching the track team, singing in the choir, and founding the Golden Agers which he led for many years. He won the Distinguished Service Award from the Lisle Rotary Club in 1995 and was Lisle’s Man of the Year in 1980. He was honored by the Knights of Columbus for hosting track meets for 17 years, and in May 2011 he was awarded Lisle’s Pillar Award for Character. He served as the Grand Marshall of the Lisle Fourth of July Parade in 2011.

He was an avid speed skater for much of his life, and an excellent gardener. His love for music, theater, and the arts made him a favorite audience member at schools and professional theaters in Chicago, and he could often be heard whistling or singing. He performed skits, jokes, and songs in community theatre and at many area nursing homes, delivered Meals on Wheels, and performed along with his children as The Zak Family Singers. He composed original songs such as the “The Gardener’s Love Song” and “Wash Your Ears”, the latter of which he sang yearly at Lisle High School. But perhaps he will best remembered for his lively repertoire of jokes, which he shared with family, friends and strangers alike.

He is survived by: his brother Jerome; his children Sharon Rives and her husband Paul Kendall; Tom Zak; Nancy Zak and her husband Arnold Cohen; Mary Starn; and David Zak and his partner Christopher Kirbabas. Also survived by grandchildren Peter Pitts, Paul Zak and wife Katie, Luke, Jason, and Rachel Starn, and Beth Zak- Cohen, and great-grandchildren Caroline, Christine, Laura, and Timothy Zak. He was predeceased by his wife Helen.

Visitation will be held at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Avenue, Lisle from 3 to 8 pm on Friday, November 25. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Lisle at 9:30 on Saturday, November 26. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sharing Connection, 5111 Chase Ave, Downers Grove, 60515.

For more information, call the funeral home at 630-964-9392.