Gary Michael Van Zetten
Gary Michael Van Zetten
Gary Michael Van Zetten
September 16, 1951 – February 9, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 64
Gary Michael Van Zetten, 64, of Oskaloosa, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, while on a Caribbean cruise. He was born September 16, 1951, in Oskaloosa, to Martin and Nellie B. McGrew Van Zetten.
Gary graduated from Sigourney High School with the class of 1969. While in high school, he worked on the wheat harvest and in the family business at Van Zetten Implement north of Ottumwa. Gary entered the United States Army National Guard following high school; serving for many years and was deployed to California during the first Gulf War.
In 1971, he married Anita Wickenkamp. They later divorced. He was united in marriage to Cynthia Johnson Oakie in 1977. They resided in Fremont with children, Blaine and Heather, before welcoming their beloved daughter, Holland, in 1979. Gary and Cynthia later divorced in 2004.
Gary took over his father’s implement dealership in 1977. He owned and operated that business until 1983. He then worked for Bill Bone Equipment in Oskaloosa, selling Massey Ferguson farm machinery. In 1985, Gary followed his entrepreneurial spirit and opened his own business doing tractor and farm machinery repairs. He also started Van Zetten Trucking in Fremont. In 1994, Gary joined Farm Bureau, where he sold insurance in Keokuk County, and later transferred to Mahaska County. In 2007, he became an independent insurance agent, most recently with Insurance Station in Oskaloosa.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Oskaloosa American Legion, V.F.W, Harvest Point and Edmundson Golf Courses.
Gary enjoyed being around family and friends. He knew how to have a good time. He was interested in learning about and flying small engine aircraft. He loved horses, enjoyed going on trail rides, and showing horses with his daughter in the 1990’s. Gary shared stories about the trip he took with Steve Weller to the Big Horn mountains to round up cattle on horseback. He loved golf, and was very proud when he made his first hole‐in‐one in 2003. In recent years he enjoyed fishing, including taking a trip to Canada with friends, and the car races in Newton. You could often find Gary watching Westerns and National Geographic or History Channel documentaries on TV, and cheering for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Gary is survived by his daughter and son‐in‐law, Holland and Eric Taylor of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Dylan and Avery; a step‐son, Blaine (& Angie) Oakie of Ankeny; a step‐daughter, Heather (& Fero) Oakie Katona of Morristown, NJ; two step‐grandchildren, Hannah and Joey Oakie; a brother, Wayne (& Gloria) Van Zetten of Colbert, Oklahoma; two sisters: Carolyn Schaefer and Marilyn (& David) Phillips of Oskaloosa; a niece and three nephews: Cindy Abrahamson, John Phillips, Joshua Van Zetten, and Sean Van Zetten; one grandniece; six grandnephews; several cousins; and his close friend, Pat McCulley, of Oskaloosa.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents; his step‐father, Melvin Streigle; his step‐mother, Margaret Newland; a brother, Larry Van Zetten; brother‐in‐law, Richard W. Schaefer; brother‐in‐law Dennis Mattson; and aunts and uncles.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 19, 2016, at 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Alvern Boetsma officiating. The Bates Funeral Chapel, in Oskaloosa, is in charge of arrangements.
Burial of the urn will be in the Friends Cemetery at New Sharon.
Visitation will begin Thursday after 11:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be present from 5-8 Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives.
As was Gary’s wish his body will be cremated following the visitation.
Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa American Legion Auxiliary.
