Tata's angel wings unfurled and he has gone to heaven to join his parents Toma and Terezija (Cindric) Zalac on Friday July 16, 2021 at the age of 81. Tata will also join his brothers Ante, Mile, Janko, Marko, and Pero. He will be missed by his surviving siblings in Croatia, Mare, Jagoda, and Jelena. Tata is survived by his daughter Jelena and her spouse Sean. Tata will be fondly remembered by his long time partner, companion, and caregiver Darlene Thomson. Tata was born in Gnojnice (Slunj) Croatia and left home in his teens for work and adventure, traveling to Pula, serving in the military in Sarajevo, and living in Germany for a time before Canada welcomed him with open arms. Tata loved his new country for the freedoms it afforded him to raise his family in peace, sing his Croatian songs at the top of his lungs, and practice his faith freely and without risk of harm. Tata liked country music, western movies, musicals, and comedies. Tata was a staunch supporter of Croatia being free of oppression and was proud to be able to obtain his Croatian passport when Croatian obtained its independence. Tata loved soccer and there are fond memories of him cheering on Metro Croatia and Oakville Nogometni Klub Velebit., and most recently Croatia in the World Cup and European Championships. When Tata first came to Canada he worked in Toronto as a carpenter on high rise buildings. He obtained employment at the Ford Motor Company of Canada and moved the family to Oakville where he retired after thirty years in the truck plant. Upon his retirement he moved to the "cottage' that his friends and family helped him build. He enjoyed fishing and mischief making with his friends. Special thanks to long term friends Tony Sabljak and Joso Baric for the time they spent with Tata and the joy that they and other long term friends (too many to mention) shared along the way. Tata was also blessed to have the most wonderful neighbours in Wasaga, Collette and Wade and their children who took special care to keep on eye on Tata, mow his lawn, and tattle tale on him when he was being stubborn and doing things like pushing his walker aside to climb the ladder and clear the snow off the roof. For those who know dad, you'll have a chuckle as he had a prosthetic leg and a stroke had took out the strength of the remaining leg. In his younger years Tata liked to work on his 1972 Chenille and he would often help friends with their vehicles. I spent more time in the garage handing him tools than I did in the kitchen. He enjoyed his back yard and the mini orchard of apples, peaches, pear, plum, and cherry trees, his garden, and using his smoke shed to make his traditional Croatian meats. A very special thank you to Marielle and Richard at Home Suite Home for the nurturing, compassionate care that they provided dad in the last year and for sharing their puppy Maya with Tata as the both of them liked to nap together in the afternoon. Additional thanks to Tata's long term nurses Joanne and Helen and the staff at Right at Home for the years of care provided to my father, allowing him to remain in his home. Thank you to Saint Elizabeth and their PSW's, and Dr. Furtado. Much gratitude to the Collingwood Hospital for their care of Tata over the years. The funeral service and burial will be in Cvitovci, Croatia in the near future where he will join his parents and siblings.