Paul Zak
July 9, 1925 -
June 11, 2017
US Veteran
Paul Zak, age 91, of Kenosha, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Brookdale Senior Living.
Born in Taurage, Lithuania, on July 9, 1925, he was the son of the late Frank and Sonia (Retuik) Zakarevich. The family moved to Kenosha in 1927, where he attended local schools and then the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Paul’s father, Frank, died when he was a young child.
Paul served in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 Ball Turret Gunner in the 100th Bomb Group during World War II. During the Korean War, he flew B-36’s out of the Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. He became a member of the Caterpillar Club after he jumped from an airplane using a parachute that saved his life.
On October 2, 1948, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, he was united in marriage to Elaine Helen Nemila. After 65 years of marriage, Elaine passed away on December 8, 2013.
Paul became a Kenosha Fire Fighter; retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Professional Fire Fighters, Local 414 and a member of the retired Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin.
International travel with his wife, Elaine; an avid walker and bird watching were activities he greatly enjoyed. In his younger years, he enjoyed the time spent hunting and fishing. Paul was very proud to be a WWII Veteran and attended all the 100th Bomb Group reunions.
He will be deeply missed by his children, Michael (Adele) Zak of Kenosha and Cheryl (Bruce) La Count of Pleasant Prairie; his granddaughter, Michelle (Jeff) Niedfeldt of Racine; three great-grandchildren, Wynter, Jolie and Myah; two half-brothers, Dr. Russell (Lottie) Sacco and Michael (Pat) Sacco; his sister-in-law, Olga Zak; many loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, Frank; his mother, Sonia; step-father, Michael Sacco, Sr. and his brother, Eugene Zak.
The family would like to thank the staff of both Brookdale Senior Living and Hospice Alliance for the loving care given to Paul.
Service Info
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017, at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue at 12 noon. Interment with full military honors will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.
