Roderick Dale Zachary, age 97, of Chetek, WI, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025, at Meadowbrook of Chetek under hospice care.

Born in Indiana, his family moved to Connecticut near other family, where he lived his childhood years and graduated from Torrington, CT, high school. Returning to Indianapolis while working at his uncle's practice there and then graduated from Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1955. Roderick met his first wife, Ann Elizabeth Marti, at Iowa State and they married in 1953. While at ISU he served in the ROTC program and went on to serve four years at Fort Dix following graduation.

Early in his career, moves were frequent until Roderick brought his family to Barron, WI, in 1968, where he became a partner of Barron Veterinary Clinic. Roderick dedicated himself to the Boy Scouts program, where he was a Scoutmaster and made many trips to Philmont Boy Scout Camp in New Mexico with scouts from Barron. Family vacations included camping and canoeing in Northern Wisconsin, and a few cross-country road trips.

After Ann passed away in 1988, Roderick met and married Lucy Metcalf of Chetek, WI. Roderick retired in 1992 and moved to Chetek, WI, joining Lucy in her home on Lake Pokegama. In his retirement, Roderick stayed active, maintaining a garden, and he and Lucy preserved many fruits and vegetables. He became a member of the Chetek Lutheran church. He volunteered at church, the local food pantry, the Chetek Museum, and the local Lions Club. Roderick enjoyed travel, taking vacations to Hawaii, Alaska, Spain, Greece, and numerous stateside tour trips. His personal hobbies included making block puzzles, wine cork trivets, stamp collecting, hiking, puzzles, and cribbage.

Roderick was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Eudora, and brothers Lawrence, Jr., and Orville. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lucille Metcalf Zachary of Chetek, WI, his three children Mark (Ruthie) of Holmen, WI, Marilou (Mike) of Gordon, WI, Eric (Ramona) of Shoreview, MN, and his wife’s children, Barbara (Steve) Page of Kissimmee, FL; Mary Hoyme (Jim) of White Bear Lake, MN; Jim Metcalf (Gwen) of Chetek, WI, fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Chetek Lutheran Church or Luther Park.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Chetek Lutheran Church in Chetek, Wisconsin, at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held prior from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Following the service, the family invites all attending to a luncheon and time of remebrance in the church's fellowship hall. Roderick will be intered at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran's Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin at a later date.

Last Update: Sep 02, 2025 9:38 am CDT