Zachary Van Donselaar

Zachary Dean Van Donselaar was born January 23, 1999, to Bruce and Candi (Garden) Van Donselaar, in Pella, Iowa. He passed away unexpectedly at the University of Iowa Hospital on October 13, 2020.

Zach was homeschooled and graduated high school in 2017.  Following high school, he worked for Vermeer with the construction crew for a year. Zach was a part of the Pella Aquatic Center for many years, first as a lifeguard  and most recently as the assistant manager. He was currently attending Des Moines Area Community College taking the  Criminal Justice program. He was a member of Liberty Evangelical Free Church where he was very active in the nursery, children’s church, AWANA, and co-leading young adult Bible study.

Zach’s family was very important to him!  He was happiest being home with his family and his siblings. He would have sibling sleep-overs at his house every Friday night. Some of his most treasured times were wrestling for Pella High School, smoking meats, getting haircuts with Trevor, and having Casey’s pizza. Some of his other interests were: kayaking and camping with family, four-wheeling, playing with his skid loader, shooting guns with friends, hanging out with his cousin Justin, frisbee golfing with family, family nights at Bogie’s Restaurant, and half-apps with his siblings and friends at Applebee’s.  He also loved his turtle Raphael, dogs and cows.

Those left to cherish his memory are his parents, his siblings: Calvin, Brittany, Ryan, Ethan, Jeana, Trevor, Elizabeth “Lizzie”, and Emma; his grandparents: John and Doris Van Donselaar, Sandy and Wayne Exline; great grandparents: Francis Runnells and Joyce Van Wyk. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins: Mark (Melissa) Van Donselaar, Doug (Cindy) Van Donselaar, Danny (Larissa) Van Donselaar, Andrew (Devon) Garden, Brandi (Harold) Manser; his close cousin Justin (Jessica) Manser, his close friends: Bryce (Barb) Renaud, Jaydan Donelson, J.J. Papendick, Ben De Reus, and Shay Poulter.  

Zachary was preceded in death by his great grandparents: Brooks and Betty Garden, Carl and Hendrika Van Donselaar, and Delmar Van Wyk.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family. 

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