Thomas Joseph Zachar, age 81, of Dubuque, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died early Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial will be in Saint John's Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 6 P.M. Sunday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E. where a Knights of Columbus Rosary begins at 4:00 P.M.

Tom is survived by his wife, Judith; six children, Peter (Andrea) in Montgomery, Alabama; Chris (Michelle) in Phoenix, Arizona; Amy (Rob) Hanus in Gilbert, Arizona; Nancy (Scott) Fett in Peosta, Iowa; Suzie Irwin in Scottsdale, Arizona and Michael (Kelly) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and twelve grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his sister, Joanne (James) Trcka and brother, Joe (Marcia) Zachar, all of Cedar Rapids

Thomas was born on March 2, 1935 in Cedar Rapids to Joseph Wenceslaus Zachar Sr. and Edith Elizabeth (Stepanek) Zachar. He graduated from Saint Wenceslaus High School in 1953 and Loras College in 1957. After college, he was in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960. He married Judith Marie Smith on November 3, 1962.

In 1974, he founded Zachartom Realty, Inc. He served as President of the Cedar Rapids Board of Realtors and on the South Side Civic Club. He was involved with the Cadets of Saint George and the Catholic Layman's Club and served on the State Association of Realtors in Des Moines.

Tom was a past director of Xavier Foundation, past President of the All Saints School Board and past President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Cedar Rapids. He is a member of the Regis Hall of Fame where he earned the William Thinnes Friend of Catholic Education Award. He was Chair of the Regis 100 Club and Xavier Silver Club.

Tom loved to play golf, fish and was a loyal Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed a great card game even when he could not catch a lucky break or "better his hand by even one card". Tom loved hearing and telling jokes, and he knew just how to deliver a punch line to make others smile and laugh. We take solace in the hope that he can now meet Ole & Lena in person.

Memorials may be made to: Xavier High School Foundation, Camp Courageous, Stonehill and Saint Vincent de Paul.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries".