Former Chesterton Teacher and U.S. Patriot Thomas M. Zachary, of Porter, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2008. He was 79.

He was born July 3, 1928 in Chicago, the son of Michael W. and Clara A. (Peak) Zachary, both of whom preceded him in death.

On Nov. 10, 1951 he married Annie C. Dame at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

He is also survived by a son, Thomas A. (Diane) Zachary of Indianapolis, Ind.; daughters, Carol (Dick) Campbell of Chesterton, Karen (Ray) Arambula of Valparaiso, Connie (Mike) Jacko of Jackson Twp.; brothers, Dan (Judy) Zachary of Washington, Ralph (Gloria) Zachary of Ill., Gerald (Janice) Zachary of Dolton, Ill., Michael Zachary of Dyer.; sisters, Betty Hansen of River Forrest, Ill. and Kathy Grefsheim of River Forrest, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Campbell, Heather (Adam) Richey, Emily (Josh) Zachary-Smith, Ashley Zachary, Brandon (Quinn) Medley, Alecia Medley, Douglas Arambula and Jared Arambula

He was also preceded in death by a brother, David Zachary and sisters Gloria Zachary and Arlene Davy.

Mr. Zachary served in the US Army 101st Airborne from 1948 to 1952. He was a former officer of the American Legion Post 503 and a current member of Post 170. Director of over 36 Veterans Day Programs including the Independence Day, Memorial Day Parades and Memorial Day Programs at Westchester Middle School and Chesterton Middle School; he was also voted Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Education Association, Co-Citizen of the year with Leo Cutter for the Town of Porter and served on the Town of Porter Planning Committee. Mr. Zachary was an Industrial Arts teacher with the Duneland School System for 35 years and retired in 1991. He received his BS and MS degrees from Murray State.

A memorial service, Fr. Terry Bennis officiating, will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway.

Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, in the funeral home.

Interment of ashes will be in Chesterton Cemetery at a private family service.

Memorials may be made to the family or to the National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Association Midwest Conference, 14525 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068.

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Posted 1/18/2008