Contributions to the tribute of Louis S. Zakar

In loving memory of

Louis

1951 - 2024

Louis S. Zakar

In Loving Memory

1951 - 2024

Lora Crombez uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

I have two stories to share about Louis Zakar. One is very old, the other is very new. First, you need to know that Louie grew up on Strawberry Street in Dundee, just a few doors west of my grandfather’s house where I spent most weekends and most of the summer. This is where I first encountered this guy. When and how I did is the result of some neighborhood drama caused by a cat. I had been enticing some feral cats out of the junk yard behind my grandfather’s house with my older sister Wendy as my able accomplice. We were successful and Fuzzer, an old feral but friendly-to-us long-haired tiger mom instigated my meeting Louie. She had lost her kittens and, in her grief, Fuzzer decided to steal herself some new babies. However, guess who these “ready to be sold to their forever home” perfect Persian seal point Siamese kittens belonged to? Louis! Upon their disappearance, Louis and one sister had come door to door asking about them. Louis knocked on my grandfather’s door. I answered. So, we went looking around the yard in all of the usual kitten hiding spots . . . and there they were – in the daylily flower bed by the living room picture window – with the thief herself! Louie was his gentle but flustered self at this development. He was kind to me as he retrieved three of the five. I trailed behind him with the other two. I was mortified at the kitten-knapping and apologized to him profusely and hoped there would be no repercussions when my grandfather found out. Did cats go to jail? Did little girls who owned thieving cats? Louis in his teenager wisdom comforted me saying, “Nothing like that. We just needed them back.” This is when I knew he was a good guy and a teenager of whom I did not need to be afraid. This second story happened just this past May and accompanies the picture. This is Louis this past May 22, 2024 in the big tent at “The Courage Tour.” I had seen him at a similar event last September that my husband and I attended, but no matter how much yelling of his name and waving, neither my husband nor I could get his attention at this large church venue. So thereafter, whenever I saw him, I would tease him and ask, “Louis are you willing to be seen with me today?” It was good natured ribbing that I have done all through his life – school and even at church. Anyway, I was really glad to catch his attention in the big tent and he sat with me and my group of friends and we saved each other’s seats and visited – I even reminded him of the cat story above – which he remembered! The worship was wonderful and the classes and evening services were even better. We sang and prayed and shouted with the other 3,000 people. To say Louis was a devout Christian who loved his country was and understatement. He literally wore his heart of his sleeve. He wore red, white, and blue all three days of the Conference. I will miss you neighbor and brother in Christ. I hope you will be at the gate to greet me and the rest of my Cooley sisters when we arrive in heaven - and I hope you won’t mind an eternity of friendly teasing. Until that great reunion, “As One!”