Arlene Alice Zakhar, PhD passed away on December 13, 2025, at age 88 after a short hospice at the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community in Oneida, WI, just 7 weeks after husband Paul Zakhar on October 27th. Arlene was born on March 29, 1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alice Catherine Kowalski (nee Krueger) and Alfred Francis Robar.

"We were poor, but your mother was Poor" said Arlene's future mother-in-law Alvina Skenandore. Arlene was the oldest of 7 siblings who moved around Wisconsin living in trailer parks, washing at gas stations while sleeping/ living in a semi-trailer, a converted barracks bus, large army tents, and included a stay at an Indiana "poor farm" helping with chickens and picking crops.

An application to private charity helped secure her family temporary housing at the "Friendship House" in downtown Milwaukee, WI, who then placed them in an apartment on Shea Avenue where Arlene met Paul Zakhar on a playground at 16. They married at 20 in Waukegan, IL, only child Renee was born later that year.

Arlene had a restless and adventurous spirit much like her father's, leading her family from Milwaukee to Alaska, Hawaii, Evanston, IL-back to Milwaukee for a long period- and eventually Green Bay, WI. Once settled in Milwaukee again Arlene simultaneously worked and attended UW-Milwaukee eventually obtaining her PhD in Urban Affairs in 1987 graduating Summa Cum Laude. While studying for her doctorate she partnered with colleagues Jan Wilberg and Barbara Goldberg to establish Seneca Associates for community research and planning.

She served on numerous committees and boards in the non-profit community, including the Milwaukee Indian Health Board. She was instrumental in launching the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin which began with her designing a survey instrument to poll native business owners statewide to establish the need for support. She and the MIEDA board of directors then collaborated with members of the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce to advise and build alliances.

Moving to Green Bay in 1993, Arlene served as Director of Advancement for St. Norbert College in De Pere. She successfully raised major funding to support academic programs and campus projects, including capital campaigns for buildings and science equipment from major foundations, corporations as well as federal government agencies and individual donors.

Arlene's restlessness pulled Paul (and the family) early to new experiences like computers and the internet. She also obtained her real estate and broker's license filling Arlene and Paul's last years as independent day traders together in the stock market.

Arlene is survived by her daughter Renee Zakhar, grandson Harrison Schultz, sister Aldene, brother Alan, and friend Kitty Hill. She was preceded in death by her parents: Alice and Alfred, sister Audrey, brothers: Alvin, Alfred, and Arlen, grandchildren: Taylor, Sawyer, and Isabel Denning.

The family sincerely thanks staff at the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community for helping the family out a second time in an emergency and Ryan Funeral Home.