Zachary Adam Kroeger

Zachary Adam “Zak” Kroeger was born on April 6th, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois, to William R. Wokersin and to Michele Kroeger, and passed away on February 28th, 2023, in Arlington, Texas, at the age of 46 years old.

Zak was born at home in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Wauconda, Illinois, with his mother, Michele, as a baby, where he spent most of his childhood years. He enjoyed the rural setting of a small town as a young boy and often explored the nearby marsh with a neighborhood group of children, and playing outside until darkness called all the children home. He attended Wauconda Elementary School. Zak participated in Little League Baseball and was a great hitter, known to often hit the ball out of the park. He also enjoyed karate and soccer, playing with the Wauconda Chiefs Travel Soccer Team for several years. As a teenager, he lived in Chicago with his dad, Bill, and his stepmother, Barb, and siblings, Justin, Quintin, Wes, Halley, and Audrey. Zak attended Mather High School briefly, then heard the beat of a different drummer and chose to complete high school through the G.E.D. testing program.

Zak always enjoyed physical activity and sports. In October of 2001, Zak ran in the Chicago Marathon, completing it with a time of 2 hours, 59 minutes, 57 seconds, under the required 3 hours to qualify for an advanced starting position in the Boston Marathon. He also competed in the 2001 Chicago Golden Gloves, reaching the semi-finals, and Zak began his career as a physical trainer working for Bulldog Boot Cam,p training clients in outdoor settings around Chicago. He taught cardio-boxing and worked as a trainer at Phenomenal Fitness for over 12 years, developing a clientele that was very devoted to him because of his abilities to move them forward in their training and fitness goals. Zak competed in several weightlifting tournaments and placed 1st in his age and weight class regularly. Zak moved to Texas in 2016 and worked as a physical trainer in Arlington and Grand Prairie. In 2017 he fulfilled his dream of opening his own training facility, Conjugate Strength and Fezek. Zak again had a strong following and had clients who were ​competitive power lifters, performance bodybuilders, and everyday people who wanted to get fit and healthy. He had a loyal following on his Instagram and Facebook sites, where he would post a daily video with information on nutrition and workout advice. He was often heard to say, “I just want to help people feel better and stronger.”

Zak was a devoted father to his two children, Zariyah Simone Grayson, and Xenos (Zaniyah) Michele Grayson. Although living several states apart, they maintained a warm and loving relationship through daily video calls and texting. It was well known among family and friends that Zak’s children were the most important reason for everything he did in his life; to be able to provide for them and ensure a comfortable, secure future for them. Zak and the children’s mother, Constance Grayson, maintained a strong co-parenting relationship.

Zak is survived by his children, Zariyah and Xenos, his mother, Michele Kroeger, and father, Bill Wokersin, his fiancé, Tia Trufant, and her daughter, Anya, brother, Justin Simutis, brother, Quintin Simutis (Valerie), brother, Wes Wokersin, sister, Halley Wokersin (Sergio Oliva Jr.), sister, Audrey Wokersin (Jonathan Fernandez), stepmother, Barbara Simutis, aunts, Jacqui Witz, Karen Porter (Mike), Debbie Wokersin, several nieces and nephews, and a host of loving family and friends.

Sweet boy, you amazed us all with your abilities to overcome adversity, move forward to pursue your dream, and flourish in your life with love and caring for your family and friends. Rest well, knowing that we will continue to love and protect what was most important to you.

​A Memorial Gathering will be held in Chicago, Illinois, on April 1st, 2023, from 1pm to 3pm, at The Step Box. The address is as follows: 4636 S Bishop Street, Chicago, Illinois 60609.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me for his children, Zariyah and Xenos, by clicking on the link: Honoring Zak Kroeger By Supporting His Kids.

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