Jan. 25, 1939 ~ Jan. 23, 2021
Surrounded by love, Dr. William R. Zagar, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. Billy was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Jan. 25, 1939, to Ann Strah Zagar and Frank Zagar. Bill was raised in Arma, Kansas, where the Zagar family had settled upon immigrating from Slovenia.
He treasured his close childhood friendships and affectionately spoke about his days at Arma High School. Bill was a three-sport athlete; football, basketball and track and played saxophone in the Arma Bulldog marching band. Billy attended the University of Kansas on a football scholarship and joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity where he made life-long friendships. At a social function, Bill met his future bride Sandra Kay Lee and upon graduation they were married at the Danforth Chapel at the University of Kansas on June 2, 1962. With his degree in chemistry, Bill went on to graduate from dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In 1965, the Zagars moved to Topeka, Kansas where they began their dental practice and soon to follow their daughters Meya, Kesa and Trina were born. Bill and Sandra were grateful for the Topeka community, their wonderful friends, and the patients and staff that made Bill’s dental practice so special. Raising three daughters was the highlight of Bill’s life where tea parties, school and sporting events, conversations about life, politics, dreams and aspirations were always a priority. KU basketball and football, tennis and golf at the Club, family road trips, dinner parties, travels with Sandy and skiing in Colorado were among his favorite activities. As an only child, Bill was grateful for the close relationships he shared with his beloved cousins. In 2003, Bill and Sandra relocated to Overland Park, Kansas, enjoying new and old friends and family. From 2008 to 2017, the Zagars also had a home in Meeker, Colorado, where Bill loved spending time with family, the Meeker Golf Course and Meeker Rec Center. The line between family and friends blurred the minute Bill shined a smile your way. He knew no stranger and his interest was genuine when he asked, “What has been keeping you busy?”
His 10 grandchildren (Allie Marie Kindred, Samuel William Kindred, Anna Lee Kindred, Maria Elizabeth Kindred, Alexander William Saenz Zagar, Meya Isabella Saenz Zagar, Matilda Lee Brown, Zagar Mathias Brown, Vivian Monroe Brown, and Wagner Ollece Brown) enriched his life; always eager to participate in and keep up on their activities. Bill also cherished his relationships with his sons-in-law, Brian Kindred and Erik Brown. With the support of his family, he endured the challenges of pancreatic cancer and Parkinson’s disease with contagious optimism and gratitude. Following a COVID-19 diagnosis, he passed in Kansas City with dignity and peace; grateful for the doctors, nurses and caregivers who supported him throughout the years. Bill will be greatly missed but his spirit lives on in the lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in his name to local Hospice organizations or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. A celebration of life will be held this summer
