Longtime SP community activist Edward ‘Zak’ Zakrajshek dies at 77

October 09, 2002
Santa Paula News

There was always something in Edward J. “Zak” Zakrajshek that caused him unfailingly to answer the call of duty, whether it be fighting for his country or stringing up lights on a massive community Christmas tree or placing dozens of chairs out for a variety of fundraisers.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThere was always something in Edward J. “Zak” Zakrajshek that caused him unfailingly to answer the call of duty, whether it be fighting for his country or stringing up lights on a massive community Christmas tree or placing dozens of chairs out for a variety of fundraisers. Zak’s devotion to community was a hallmark of the longtime Santa Paula resident, who died at age 77 on Sept. 18, 2002, after a long illness.Born Oct. 25, 1925, in Sartell, Minnesota, Zak moved with his wife, Flo, to Ventura County 55 years ago from Terminal Island, Long Beach. Zak served in the Navy for 22 years, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He remained a Navy Reserve for a decade.According to his friend and fellow VFW member, Richard Ruiz, Zak joined the Navy Nov. 11, 1942, “Veterans Day,” noted Ruiz, discharged in June 1962.Served in World War II - both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters - and Korea from 1950 to 1954. “He received a WWII Victory Medal,” among others for his service during the two wars, Ruiz said.During service in Pt. Mugu, Flo and Zak, who married on Oct. 12, 1952, decided to eventually settle in the then-small town of Oxnard, but by the time the couple made the move the city had grown dramatically. They soon moved to Santa Paula, which Flo said reminded Zak of the small town he grew up in.Zak and Flo operated Flo-Air Heating & Air Conditioning for more than 35 years.An addition to their growing family was a nephew, Danny Gawenda, now 54, who came to live with the Zakrajsheks when he was 12 years old. After he graduated from Santa Paula High School - where he excelled at math - Danny became a Marine and was sent to Vietnam. There, during battle, Danny received massive injuries that left him physically and mentally disabled for life, but he returned to Santa Paula and the Zakrajsheks continued to care for him.“Zak would take Danny with him wherever he went, kept track of him and helped him do things,” said Don Olivier, who noted such devotion typified his longtime friend.
“Zak was very active up to about a year ago in the VFW,” and other organizations he belonged to. “Any project they came up with him he would be gung ho. . . Zak didn’t just talk, he worked,” often side-by-side with his close friend, the late community and civic activist Les Maland, the longtime commander of the VFW.“Zak and Les were always promoting the VFW in any and all ways and they worked on quite a few projects,” including rehabilitation and maintenance of the Odd Fellows clock tower building, where both were members. “They also worked closely together to create the Veterans Memorial. Zak was an all around good guy when it came to any kind of service project; always enthusiastic, that was Zak.”“He was a pretty nice guy,” said former VFW Commander Carl Barringer. “He and Flo took care of Danny, had him involved in things,” including community service. “Even Cathy (Barringer) could count on Zak to help with the Hospice Light Up A Life,” where Zak and other members of the Optimist Club would string the lights and set out chairs. “You could always, always count on Zak.”“Zak would organize the set ups and then break them down and take it all back,” said Cathy Barringer. “It was a lot of work but you could always count on him.”Zak was also active with the Fleet Reserve.Zak’s volunteerism stemmed from his love of Santa Paula, said Flo. “He loved it, really loved Santa Paula. Zak just felt that you should work on improving what you have, no pipe dreams, just rolling up your sleeves and doing it. He felt that way right to the end, he loved the town and working with others who feel the same way.”Services for Zak were held Tuesday, Sept. 24th at Veterans Memorial Park where he received a 21-gun salute from the VFW Post Rifle Squad.Zak is survived by his wife, Flo; sons, Edmund and Frank (Norma Hernandez) Zakrajshek; daughter, Cindi (Sean) Smith; grandchildren, Kenneth, Evan and Logan Zakrajshek, Jennifer (Chris) Jeffries, Chelsa Lovering, Abigail Smith, and beloved son-in-law Bill Lovering; sisters, Maryann Thielman of Ankeny, Iowa, and Helen Westphal of St. Paul, Minn. as well as many nieces and nephews, including Danny.The family has requested that donations in Zak’s memory be made to Hospice Home Assist of Ventura or the Santa Clara Valley Hospice in Santa Paula.



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