Thomas Kevin Zakula “Zak”, 60, of Phoenix, AZ, died on June 28th, 2023 in his home.

Born June 26, 1963 in Evergreen Park, IL Thomas, known as “Tommy” or “Zak” to his family and friends, was the Son of Walter David Zakula, and Dorothy Nora (Ryan) Zakula.

The youngest of three brothers, Zak grew up in Beverly, a historic far Southside neighborhood of Chicago, IL where his Father worked as a police officer, and Mother as a Nurse. He attended St. Cajetan in grade school, and graduated from Marist High School where he played football. Zak attended Arizona State University in pursuit of a degree in Accounting between 1984 - 1988.

In 1988 he took a summer job in Alaska at St. Elias Cannery where he worked on the docks unloading fish from the boats then returned to IL and worked for a number of years as a Clerk in the Euro Dollar Pit of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He married Laurel Ann Barnes on October 26, 2001 and had three children, Sela, Ryan, and Ryah. After returning to Arizona in 2003, Zak worked for Southwest Airlines as a Ramp Agent. Zak and Laurel were divorced in 2010 and remained close as they raised their three children.

Zak was preceded by his parents, whom also passed at an early age, his Father, Walter Daniel Zakula (63), and Mother, Dorothy Nora Ryan (48).

Surviving Zak are his three Children, Daughter, Sela Ann (20); Son, Ryan Thomas (17); Daughter, Ryah Maricel (15); his two brothers, Mark A Zakula (70); and David T Zakula (66) and David’s Wife, Danette of Oak Forest, IL; and Step-Mother, Mary Zakula (74) of Bristol, TN. He also leaves behind many cousins and longtime friends whom he deeply cared for and appreciated.

Zak had a love for University of Michigan Football and the Chicago White Sox. He enjoyed traveling and used his camera to express his passion for photography. He particularly liked to snap pictures of animals and individuals that outwardly appeared to have hard lives - a Chicago homeless man thrilled to cool off in Lake Michigan or a Farmer thankful for a breeze while working his land with no end in sight. These photographs were a deeper reflection of his drive for hard-laborious work. 

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