BYRON - George D. Zarcoff, 82, died unexpectedly Sunday, July 24,
2005, in his home. He was born Oct. 2, 1922, in Gary, Ind., the son of
Emil and Juliana (Vitzay) Zarcoff.

He grew up in Gary and graduated from Tolleston High School, where he participated in all sports, especially football and basketball. In his senior year, he won the city
scoring championship in football. He graduated in 1940, and attended Wheaton and Elmhurst colleges before being drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1942. He was stationed in California with the 746th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion. George was sent overseas to participate in the southern Philippines Liberation Campaign, landing on the island of Cebu. He was discharged in February 1946. He then attended Shurtleff College, graduating in 1948.

He began teaching and coaching in southern Illinois schools. George married Dorothy L. Reidner on July 25, 1953, in Warsaw, Ill., having met her while teaching in central Illinois. He taught and coached in various Illinois schools, including Minonk-Dana-Rutland. He received his master's degree in administration from Western Illinois University, and served as principal and superintendent in several schools. He came to Byron in 1968 as superintendent from his job as assistant principal of St. Charles Senior High School. He served in Byron for seven years. He
then served as superintendent in Chadwick for terms of three years and
then two more years. He helped establish a Job Corps Center in northern
Wisconsin, where he served as educational director in 1965-66.

His later years were spent working for Morrison Institute of Technology as his semi-retired job. He and his wife traveled many places, both on tours and on their own. They were also "snowbirds," spending two winters in Florida and 15 years in Tucson, Ariz. He loved to play golf, work crossword puzzles and enjoy his daily morning coffee at the Sunrise Restaurant. Most of all, he wanted to be remembered as teacher and coach because of the personal relationships with the students.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; brother-in-law, James Davis; sister-in-law, Elaine (Rudolph) Asmus; and three nephews and a niece.  He was predeceased by his parents, and his only sibling, sister, Lillian. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, in Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 506 W. Merchant St., Byron.  Cremation rites accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed
to a favorite charity.