"I am very sad today as I just learned of Zeljko's passing, three months later. We spoke often by telephone as he was the engineer over the project I was working on. I will always remember his kindness and sense of humor. He was a good man and I was really looking forward to meeting him when I returned to Houston after the completion of my project in Colorado. May God bless him and his family. Please accept my profound condolences."
In loving memory of
Zeljko Arapovic
June 2, 1953 - September 21, 2022
Zeljko (Tola) Arapovic, (69), passed away on September 21, 2022 at the Houston Methodist West Hospital. He was the husband of Visnja Arapovic with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.
Born in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), he was the son of Nada Arapovic and Ivica Arapovic. An accomplished junior athlete and a civil engineering protégé, Tola spent his early adulthood project managing large infrastructure developments throughout Europe and the Middle East while devoting his free time volunteering at local tennis clubs. Escaping the civil war of the former Yugoslavia, life would take him to the United States in 1997 where he and his wife immigrated to Phoenix, AZ in search of a better life for their boys. While Phoenix had become a new home, his career later brought him to Houston, TX where he resided until his untimely death.
Tola will be remembered for his kind soul, determined personality, his dry sense of humor but most of all for being a man of principle. He will also always be remembered for his love of animals.
He is survived by his wife Visnja, his sons Bruno and Karlo, his daughters-in-law Amber and Raechell, his sister Diana, brother-in-law Ljubo, nephew Boris, niece Nina and his grandchildren Christian, Luke, Ayrton and Reese. He was predeceased by his parents Nada and Ivica Arapovic.
The graveside service will be at 9 a.m., Sunday, October 2nd at Paradise Memorial Gardens located at 9300 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Tributes
"Rest in peace Tola. You will be missed by your high school friends. My sincere condolences to your family. Jadranka Cica Kovacevic"
"Zeljko, he is my good teacher and a closed brother who I could share and ask for advises. He will be missed so much. "
"Mr. Zeljko, where do I begin. So many memories of driving to Austin and San Antonio talking about God knows what, he was kind of like at work father figure for a lot of the younger engineers. Stubborn, strong willed, but also the first to offer any help for practically anything you needed. Countless lunches to his favorite Bosnian restaurant, learning how to speak his language and having great company during those lunches. Though we frequently bumped heads on issues we always came out friends and with more respect for other. He truely will be missed."
"Zeljko was always a great teacher of engineering in our office. We were all fortunate to have him in professional lives. We had many a debate as he was passionate about work, history, life, and politics. He will be missed so much. ?-David Cole"
"Last goodbye to our dear best man, best friend and great human. You will live forever in our hearts and memories. Rest in peace. Our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family. Your dear friends and Elvira and Kijo"
"Zeljko was a good man and true gentleman. I always enjoyed our conversations at family gatherings. Nora and I send our prayers for his everlasting soul and for the comfort to his loved ones. "