Rev. John T. Zagar was born August 31 1931, and entered into eternal life October 8, 2003.

Because of his desire to be of service to people, he enrolled in college to become a doctor, until by a twist of fate he enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War. It was during this time he was smitten with the priesthood and decided to become a priest.

He entered Saint John's Seminary September 7, 1954, in San Antonio, Texas and the following fall entered Assumption Seminary. On May 27, 1961, he was ordained at Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, by the Most Reverend Victor J. Reed.

His first assignment was as associate pastor at Corpus Christi Parish in Oklahoma City, during which he signed up with the National Guard as a chaplain and later enlisted in the Army.

This coincidently led to two tours during the Vietnam War. The first tour he was assigned to a VIP hospital in Tan San Nuit, a suburb of Saigon. The second tour he spent a year in the jungle, the last two months of which were in a hospital recovering from severe injuries. For his service during the Vietnam War he was awarded a Purple Heart.

After his recovery he served as a chaplain at Centerville Chapel in Augsburg, Germany, for three years. He next served as the area chaplain for the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX until he enrolled in the Army Chaplain's Career School at Fort Hamilton, New York. During his time in New York he received his master's degree in sociology at Long Island University, and was then transferred to Korea in the spring of 1978. In 1979 he was reassigned stateside to Fort Carson, Colorado and finally at Fort Sill in Lawton, where he retired from the Army as a Lt. Colonel in 1982. After he retired from the Army he returned to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City where he served as the pastor of Sacred Heart in Alva and Saint Joseph's in Hennessey. His last assignment he served as pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Oklahoma City until his retirement in 1989.

After retiring from the priesthood Fr. Zagar celebrated Mass for the Discalced Carmelite Sisters in Piedmont and taught a weekly class at St. John the Baptist in Edmond.

He also enjoyed tending his flower beds, his collection of artwork and music from around the world, visiting friends, dabbling in gourmet cooking and playing with his cat, Tigerious {Tiger for short}. He led a good life, thanks to God.

Father Zagar is survived by his brother, Joe Harold Zagar of Center Point, Louisiana and a nephew in Austin, Texas.

A Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 12, 2003 at St. Joseph Monastery in Piedmont.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2003, at Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with interment at Saint Gregory Abbey, Shawnee.

Services under the direction of Smith & Kernke Funeral Home 14624 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.