Anthony "Tony" J. Zalar, age 91, a resident of Glen Ellyn, IL, died Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois.  He was born August 20, 1931 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and was the son of the late Anthony Zalar and Margaret Bogozi.

Tony grew up in Uniontown where he graduated from South Union High School, where he also met Shirley Dennick.  He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in both Texas and at Andrew's Air Force Base in Washington D.C. where he even met the President.  After his service, he married Shirley and they moved to Greensburg, PA where they started a family. He also began a career in sales for Libby Foods.  In 1964, he was transferred to Chicago and they eventually moved to Glen Ellyn in 1967.  He was Vice-president of Sales at Libby Foods until 1993, when he joined a Spanish-based food company, Camocho Foods as their Vice-president of sales, until he retired in 1996.

In retirement he returned to school and earned a Master Gardening Certificate. He volunteered with the DuPage County Extension to help people with gardening.  He was good with his hands and enjoyed wood working and wood carving. He enjoyed playing handball and racquetball.

Tony was a devout Christian and a member of College Church in Wheaton, IL. He loved attending Sunday School and also volunteered in various ministry programs. He was also an animal lover and was never without a dog at his side.

He is survived by his daughters,  Terrie (Patrick) Doherty of Crystal Lake, IL, and Tracie (Jeff) Vanderbeck of Pikeville, KY; four grandchildren, Brandon (Meghan) Doherty, Brynna (Andrew) Harwerth, AJ (Alyssa Arterburn) Vanderbeck and Leah Vanderbeck; five great-grandchildren, Sean Doherty, Owen Doherty, Colman Harwerth, Bennett Harwerth and Maeve Harwerth.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley in 2018.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, Wheaton, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. BCRF.org

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.