Herbert Zahn, 78, of Concord, Calif., a retired Lombard attorney, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, on Saturday, May 4, in his home. Born in Germany, Mr. Zahn was a young boy when he moved to Chicago with his family. He graduated from Steinmetz High School, then was drafted into the Army during World War II. He served as a German language interpreter while based in Germany and in 1944 became a prisoner of war. He was released shortly before the end of the war. Following his military service, Mr. Zahn graduated from Wright Junior College in Chicago, then obtained a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Mr. Zahn opened a private law practice in Lombard in the 1950s and worked in general practice until he retired to California in the early 1990s. “He was a brilliant and knowledgeable man,” said his sister Trudy Ulm. “You couldn’t ask him a question that he didn’t know the answer.” Other survivors include his wife, Margaret; three daughters, Pamella Rivet, Mary and Carol; two sons, Timothy and Andrew; a sister, Beth Staas; and three grandchildren. Funeral services will be private.
