Elmer Van Zante

Elmer Roy Van Zante

Elmer Van Zante
September 13, 1918 – January 02, 2013
Oskaloosa, Iowa and formerly of Eddyville, Iowa.

Served with Honor – United States Military Veteran

Elmer passed away early Wednesday morning at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.

Elmer Roy Van Zante,94, son of Henry and Anna Grandia Van Zante, was born September 13, 1918, at Eddyville, Iowa. He attended Piper School in Columbia Township of Wapello County. He was a 1938 graduate of Eddyville High School. Elmer entered the U.S. Army in 1942 during World War II, serving in the 392nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion in Washington, D.C. and the Hawaiian Islands until the war ended. Following an honorable discharge in January of 1946 he worked at John Deere in Ottumwa, IA for one year. Elmer was united in marriage to Elizabeth Van Heukelom, February 10, 1948, at Third Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. They made their home on the Van Zante home place south of Eddyville, where he was born and raised. Elmer was a stock and grain farmer and lived to see the farm become a Century Farm in 2011. Elmer served as President of the Eddyville School Board in 1960-1962. He served as a deacon at the Eddyville Reformed Church, where he made his profession of faith. He also served as an elder and vice-president of the Consistory at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth; two sons and a daughter and their families: Arlin and Donna Van Zante of rural Eddyville, Loren and Rhonda Van Zante of rural Eddyville and Beth and Randall Brostrom of rural Oskaloosa; eight grandchildren: Michelle DeBruin, Seth Van Zante, Paul Van Zante, Joshua Van Zante, Kristin Borcherding, Cara Brostrom Okerberg, Renee Brostrom, and Haley Brostrom; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Marvin of Fargo, North Dakota.

Those preceding him in death are his parents, three brothers and five sisters.

Visitation: will begin at 10 a.m., Friday morning, January 04, 2013 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 05, 2013 at Central Reformed Church with Reverend Donald DeGlopper officiating. A Family Prayer Service will precede the service at 10:45 a.m. in the west wing of the church.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery

Memorials may be made to the Central Reformed Church Memorial Fund.