John Zak

John Charles Zak, 66, of Saint Hilaire, Minnesota passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015, in the Villa St. Vincent, Crookston, with his wife, Deborah, at his side. John was born on January 19, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, where he lived until moving with his parents to Little Falls in 1961. Following graduation from Little Falls High School, John enlisted in the US Army where he served with the 101st Airborne Division that included a tour of duty in Vietnam. John graduated from Bemidji State University with an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication and a master's degree in Education. John was a media producer in University Relations at the University of Minnesota Crookston from 1976 until his retirement in July, 2015. On September 15, 1984, John and Deborah Matero were united in marriage at Crookston Cathedral. They made their home in rural Saint Hilaire. John was known as an outdoor sports enthusiast who loved cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding and anything else that could be enjoyed during Minnesota's long winters. John is survived by his wife, Deborah, mother-in-law Alice Matero, sister-in-law Eileen (Randy) Johnson, niece Hannah (Bobby) Pridgen and nephew Duncan Johnson and by several uncles, aunts and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence and Sylvester Zak, and father-in-law Arvid Matero. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the U of M Crookston Office of Development & Alumni Relations.

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, September 18, 2015
Service
Saturday, September 19, 2015
cemetery
Friday, October 16, 2015