Lawrence Van Zante

Lawrence William Van Zante was born January 9, 1926, to Teunis W. and Sarah (Lautenbach) Van Zante, at home near Howell Station. He grew up on the farm and enjoyed farming and working in the shop.

Lawrence attended Flagler School and later graduated from Pella High School.

He met Margaret De Cook uptown on the square in Pella and they were married June 12, 1947. They took a honeymoon to Denver, Colorado, and resided in the country outside Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children: Chuck, Linda, David and Denny.  Lawrence and “Margie” were very close and would hold hands on their daily walks. They traveled to most of the states, enjoyed camping with friends and square dancing.

Lawrence started an auto repair shop after they were married. They moved to Pella and lived ½ block from his shop. Lawrence was known for his skills at repairs, welding and fabricating. He made new hoods for two-cylinder John Deere’s for many years. Later he built a new shop six miles south of Pella where he worked on antique cars and tractors. He was known as an expert on old John Deere tractors and collected many of them. Sometimes traveling to many states with his friends to pick them up. He was a member of the Red Rock Threshers and helped with tractor pulls and enjoyed tractor rides. He competed in plowing contests with his two-cylinder John Deere. Lawrence was a volunteer fireman in Pella for 40 years. He was a faithful member of the Third Reformed Church where he served on the consistory as deacon and elder.

Those left to cherish his memory. . .

Chuck and Esther Van Zante, Pella

            Holly and Chad Brandt

                        Sage

                        Schaeffer and Mike Simmons

                        Tatum

                        McCaffrey

            Joel and Jessica Van Zante

                        Gavin, Vera

Linda and Scott Kilpatrick, De Soto, Kansas

            Brad Kilpatrick and Melissa Scheffler

                        Tayler Kilpatrick

            Bridget and Dennis Mertz

                        Ethan, Samantha, Morgan Brewer              

David and Teresa Van Zante, Mason City

            Allison and Ryan Dhabalt

                       Celeste, Maximus

            Austin and Mareah Van Zante

                        Noah

Denny and Barb Van Zante, Pella

            Jackie and Dave Parsons

                        Hendrix, Maddox

            Stacia Van Zante

            Kayla Van Zante

Lawrence is also survived by his sister Dorothy Vande Voort, brother Bill Van Zante, and sister-in-law Tamiko Van Zante all of Pella; and his brothers and sisters-in-law: Art and Evelyn De Cook of Pella, Don and Pauline De Cook of Indianola, Rob and Sandy De Cook of Pella and Pauline De Cook of Rochester, Minnesota. 

Lawrence was preceded in death by his wife Margaret, his parents Teunis and Sarah Van Zante, his parents-in-law Gradus and Bertha (Van Gilst) De Cook, his brother Robert Van Zante, and his niece Peggy Van Zante.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.