Anton "Tony" Zacek, 78, of Solon, died Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Solon Nursing Care Center.  Celebration of life services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 13, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church near Ely, with Reverend Dr. Julie Schuett presiding.  Full military rites will be conducted following services at the church.  Inurnment will be at a later date in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW.

Anton was born August 6, 1938 in Cedar Rapids, the son of John A. and Lorraine (Wickham) Zacek.  He attended Van Buren grade school and was a graduate of Wilson High School Class of 1956.  Tony was inducted into the Aristotelian Chapter of the National Honor Society in 1955.  He attended the University of Iowa.  He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps on October 22, 1956 following basic training.  He also earned an honorable discharge from the United States Army on September 30, 1964.  Tony was united in marriage to Karen A. Koss on November 9, 1957 at First Presbyterian Church Near Ely.

Tony was employed by Sramek's Jack and Jill on J Street SW during his high school years and beyond.  Following military service he worked briefly at Paul Jones Dental Lab.  For two years, he was employed by Occidental Life Insurance Company.  At this point, he had the opportunity to become a partner in Nelson's Meats where he spent more than twenty five years followed by short periods working for JC Penney and Younkers in sales until his retirement.  He was a lifelong wrestling fan, having wrestled in high school finishing with an outstanding record.  He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and followed wrestling, football and basketball.  He enjoyed traveling. Early in their marriage he and Karen enjoyed square dancing.  When his family was young he enjoyed boating and snow skiing.  Tony loved spending time with his loving family, especially his granddaughters.  His deep faith was ever present to his Lord and his church family at First Presbyterian Church near Ely, where he served three terms on Session.  Tony faithfully served eighteen years on the Solon School Board.  He also faithfully served many years as chairman of the Coralville Lake Manor Improvement Association (his local residential area.)

Anton is survived by his wife, Karen Zacek, of 58 years; son, Matt (Dawn) Zacek of Swisher;  daughter, Amy (Jeff) Chance of Atlanta, Georgia; two grandchildren Hailey Ann and Hannah Elizabeth Zacek; a sister Alice (Don) Heggedahl of Hayfield, Minnesota; nieces Lynne Zeman, Cindy Whisler, Sherry Renoux, Michele Heggedahl, Julie Sterk, Lisa Heggedahl, Kathy Krantz, Patty Paten, Wanda Zacek-Lawrence, Denise Morey and Anne Patenaude; nephews Eldon J. Zacek, Jr., Dennis Voshell, David Voshell and Scott Koss; many great-nieces and nephews; cousins Connie Robinson and Michael Wickham; and the Stainbrook cousins:  Michael Stainbrook, Sue Stainbrook, David Stainbrook, Maureen Krutzfeld and Ann Beyer and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Gene and Eldon, his sister Clarice Petrusek, as well as his father and mother-in-law Charles J. and Adeline A. Koss, sister-in-law Beverly Zacek and brothers-in-law Tony Petrusek, Charles W. Koss and Wayne Koss.

Memorials may be directed to either the American Diabetes Association: American Diabetes and or to the First Presbyterian Church Near Ely: elypres.org in his name.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caring staff of the Solon Nursing Care Center, Hospice of Mercy, Dr. Melanie Stahlberg, Reverend Dr. Julie Schuett, family, church family, friends and neighbors.