Dr. Thomas Zbaracki, Sr.

Dr. Thomas John Zbaracki, Sr. 89, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at St. Mary's hospital with his loving family by his side.  Tom was born in Duluth to John and Sophia (Kuyava) Zbaracki on Oct. 10, 1926.

He lived in Lakeside during his youth and attended St. Michael's Catholic School.  He joined Boy Scout Troop 26 and earned the rank of Eagle in 1943.  Later, he was a Scout Master for Troop 53 and received the St. George Emblem in 2002.  He worked at the Montgomery Wards department store in downtown Duluth and ushered at the old NorShore Theater.  In 1938, he, along with his brother Dick, and their mom and dad, built a log cabin on Lake Elora, north of Duluth.  Tom also loved music, and with three friends, formed a country western band called the Melody Mountaineers.  He sang, played guitar, and harmonica at church functions and on the radio at the Lyceum and Beacon theaters in the Twin Ports.

Tom graduated from Cathedral High School in 1944. He enlisted in the Navy where he served as a Petty Officer, 2nd class Pharmacist Mate, at the Great Lakes Academy in Chicago during WWII.  After the war, he studied at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul and graduated from the School of Dentistry from the University of Minnesota in 1952.  While at St. Thomas, he met his future bride, Mary Jane Roehl, of St. Paul.  They married on Sept. 10, 1949.

Tom and Mary moved to Duluth in 1952 where they raised nine children.  They enjoyed festive holidays at home with their family.  Many summer days were spent at the Lake Elora cabin swimming, fishing, sailing, water skiing, and sitting out on the deck enjoying the sunsets.  They also traveled the United States and abroad with trips to Aruba, Europe, Asia, as well as cruises in the Caribbean.

Tom built a dental practice of 40 years in the Woodland neighborhood.  He was a past president of the Duluth Dental Forum, a program chairman of the Northeast District Dental Society, and a member of the St. Louis County Board of Health for 19 years.  He was a long time parishioner of St. John's Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic minister and lector.  He was a Life Member of the Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, a past Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree, and a member of the Fourth Degree Hall of Fame.

Tom enjoyed the outdoors, and was a member of the Duluth Archery Club and the Minnesota Archery Association.  In 1980, he shot the clubs largest buck at the time, rating a 153 Pope and Young score.  Tom loved sports, especially the Minnesota Vikings, UMD hockey, and Gopher football.  He was an original season ticket holder from the Vikings' first season in 1961.   In 1969, Tom was credited by the Edina Sun newspaper as the person who started tailgating at the Viking games.

Tom is preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary, his parents, John and Sophia Zbaracki, daughter Terese LaPlante, brother Richard Zbaracki, grandson Edward Zbaracki, and son-in-law Edward Jilek.  He is survived by his sons Thomas Jr. (Dee), Michael (Nancy), John, Robert, and William (Elaine), and his daughters Marion, Jean Marsh (Jeff), and Barbara Zbaracki Rinallo (Peter).  He is also survided by 13 grandchildren: Christopher, Renee, Julie, John, Jenny, Timothy, David, Greg, Joseph, Matthew, Karielle, and Kateri, along with 7 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at St. Mary's Hospital.  He will forever be loved and remembered by his family and friends, especially his friends at The Crest at Lakeshore.

Visitation:  5-7pm Thursday, September 8, 2016 with Rosary prayers at 6:30 pm at Dougherty Funeral Home.  Visitation continues on Friday from 10 am until the 11 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. John’s Catholic Church, 4230 St. John’s Ave.  Military honors will be accorded by the Duluth Honor Guard.  If so desired, memorials may be directed to St. John’s parish and school.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second St., Duluth, 218-727-3555.