Walter B. Zoberis

Walter Bruno Zoberis, age 86, of Burr Ridge passed away peacefully, joining his devoted wife, Erna Jean, his beloved grandson, Zachary Plantz, and many family members in Heaven on September 21, 2025. He is survived by his loving children Laura (Ron) Plantz and Craig (Tracy) Zoberis; cherished grandchildren Tyler (Jana) Plantz, Logan (Angela) Plantz, Abrielle Plantz, Nicholas Zoberis, Natalie Zoberis, Gillian Zoberis, and Jacqueline Zoberis; adoring great-grandsons Zachary Mack and Duke Plantz; dear sister Barbara (Jerry) Lipinski and the late George (Cheryl) Ryniak; and nephews and niece: Keith, Thad, and Beth Ryniak, and Todd and Brad Lipinski.

Walter was born February 16, 1939, and grew up in Chicago. He attended Lindblom Math & Science Academy and Illinois Institute of Technology, married his high school sweetheart, and started a family in Oak Lawn. Walter worked tirelessly to support and provide for his family. He believed (and proved) that anything worth doing was best done by himself, famously single-handedly building an addition to their home over scarce free weekends. He cheered Laura through baton twirls at parades and Craig at cross-country meets, and still found time to entertain clients, golf, and fish with Craig - despite Craig’s early morning protests.

Walter and Erna built their dream home in Burr Ridge, thoroughly involved in the planning, building, and landscaping; varied iterations and napkin sketches of every nuance of home and gardens have all most certainly been saved and well-preserved! They traveled extensively through Asia, Europe, and Hawaii, but Sanibel Island was their favorite destination, ultimately designing and building their home-away-from-home. They savored the sunshine, tropical environment, and relaxed lifestyle. Walter escaped often on “Business” (his fishing boat) to enjoy the serenity of nature and water, and of course, fishing, one of his true passions.

Walter had inspiring natural talents and perseverance in pursuing higher education to build his engineering company, Century Design, from the ground up. It actually would not be a stretch to say he built the actual physical building his company was housed in! He worked tirelessly to make his clients’ dreams a reality with his design work, even achieving the ultimate recognition as the engineer behind the world-famous “Being Born” sculpture featured in Chicago.

Ever the supportive grandfather, Walter attended all his eight grandchildren’s games and activities as only a true fan could, donning logoed apparel (even on his last day on Earth) and making far treks to enjoy a glimpse of his grandchildren living their best lives. Walter loved engaging with others, whether it be in the stands, over dinner with friends, or even chatting with the telemarketer callers. He was gifted with incredible talents to design, create, problem-solve, and ask leading, thought-provoking questions, and his patience and gentle nature will surely be missed.

Please consider a donation to The Zac Plantz Foundation www.zacplantz.com to honor his legacy. The family will receive friends and family at St. Mary Catholic Church, Mokena on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 10:00am until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Interment to follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Frankfort, IL.