Paul Watson Lee Zakhar, age 88, walked on at the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community on October 27, 2025, with Arlene, his wife of 68 years by his side. He was born at the Tomah Indian Hospital on July 31,1937, to Paul and Alvina (Skenandore) Zakhar.

His father was killed in an accident at the age of thirty-one while riding his motorcycle in Milwaukee. Paul spent much of his early life between Milwaukee and Oneida to spend time with his grandmother Lillian. Paul and Arlene met on a neighborhood playground on the east side of Milwaukee when they were 16 years old. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen and he and Arlene were married in Waukegan, Illinois on March 7, 1958.

After the birth of their only child, daughter Renee, the family moved to Spenard, a neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska where he worked for the Alaska Railroad. Part of his job was chasing moose off the tracks and clearing snow from avalanches. Later they moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where he was licensed to teach automotive repair. In 1963 the family returned to Milwaukee where Paul earned his B.S. in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He and his younger brother, Jim Zakhar, were instrumental in leading the effort to establish the Southeast Oneida Tribal Services (SEOTS) office to provide social services and cultural education to Oneida tribal members living in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.

Paul worked various jobs before moving to Green Bay to work at the Oneida Casino. He accepted a position in the Employee Relations department to advocate for tribal employees from 1993 to 2004 when he retired.

Paul was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and a proud Oneida. He is survived by his wife Arlene, daughter Renee Zakhar and grandson Harrison Schultz.

Paul was preceded in death by three grandchildren Taylor, Sawyer, and Isabel Denning. Also preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Alvina; brothers Jim Zakhar, sister Rhea Reagan, twin sisters Priscilla (Carol) Zakhar and Patricia (Bob) Ulrich, and many nephews and nieces.

The family sincerely thanks staff at the Anna John Resident Centered Care Community, Matt Metoxen of Oasis Senior Advisors-Green Bay, and Ryan Funeral Home. A memorial celebration of life will be planned for a later date.