Richard Allen Zak

     Richard Allen Zak was born on December 5, 1947 to Kenneth Valentine Zak and Marguerite Alice (Jorns) Zak, and passed away on September 24, 2024 with his loving wife, Karen Johnson-Zak by his side. If you knew Rick, you would know that he would hate even the idea of sharing personal information, but we wanted to share some about his life.

     Rick grew up in Baileys Harbor and attended Baileys Harbor Elementary School and Gibraltar High School. He graduated in 1966 with Karen. Though they did not date in high school, they were physics lab partners.

     Rick attended University of Wisconsin-Stout after graduation and due to the long time it would take to drive that distance, he obtained his pilot’s license and soon he and a friend would occasionally make the trip in a small airplane. While taking semester off school to earn money, Rick was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served honorably in Vietnam. He was wounded in 1968 and was sent home to recuperate at the VA hospital in Colorado Springs, CO.

     When he recovered from his injuries, he finished his degree at Stout and moved to Boulder, CO where he received his MBA at University of Colorado Boulder. He then worked many years for Martin Marietta where he was a plant manager. It was there that he took up biking and skiing – both lifelong hobbies and then later interests.

     In the early 1980’s he returned home to Door County where, being a third-generation stone mason, he began his own stone masonry business. Shortly thereafter, he ran into Karen and the rest, as they say, was history. One of their favorite things to do was to take long road trips across the (primarily western) U.S., as far away as Alaska. He liked to say, “let’s go west until our hats float.”

     Rick’s stone masonry skills were excellent and sought-after. He had an eye for choosing the natural stone to fit perfectly together with another one and he often found unique shapes that resembled sailboats, wine bottles, and even one of the state of Wisconsin. He also found interesting fossils and stones – many of us have received these keepsakes. He built and donated the stonework for the fireplace found in the lobby of the Door County Auditorium.

     After Rick and Karen retired, they took more trips – even venturing east, to visit their grandsons, Ryan and Dylan, and of course, their parents. All four Watsons loved coming home to Door County to visit Meme and Grandpa, mostly in the summers. Meme and Grandpa found perfect climbing trees (supplemented with ladders to get to the best branches), built them a fort in the pine forest and strategically placed deer horns on walking paths for them both to “discover.”  Not to mention being paid in peanut M&Ms to do very minor tasks.

     He is survived by his wife, Karen of Sister Bay; daughter, Stacey (Angus) Watson of Falls Church, VA; grandsons, Ryan and Dylan Watson of Falls Church, VA; brother, Daniel (Pam) Zak of Seymour, WI; sister, Sandra (William) Koepsel of Sun Prairie, WI; brother-in-law, Conrad (Linda) Johnson of Sister Bay; nephews, Mathew (Melanie) Johnson of Woodbury, MN and Nicholas Johnson of Sister Bay; and nieces, Erika Johnson of Fairfax, VA and Becky (Jason) Stewart of Oostburg, WI.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Oscar Henry Johnson and Carolyn Grace (Lettie) Johnson; brother and sister-in-law, Corwin Oscar Johnson and Cynthia Ann (Paradise) Johnson.

     Per Rick’s wishes, there will be no memorial service.

     In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wisconsin Humane Society - Door County Campus (https://www.wihumane.org/contact/door-county-campus).

     Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Zak family. Expressions of sympathy and memories of Rick may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.CaspersonFuneralHome.com.

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