Robert Dale Van Zee
August 10, 1929 — December 11, 2016
Funeral services for Robert Van Zee age 87 of Pleasantville will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home. Burial, with Military Honors, will follow in the Pleasantville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Mason Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Pleasantville American Legion Post #108 or to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Online condolences may be left at
www.BertrandFuneralHomes.com
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He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Teresa Van Zee of Pella; 3 grandchildren: Suzanne (Josh) VandeKamp, Kristin Scott and Bobby (Shannon) Van Zee; 4 great-grandchildren: Siena Scott, Madelyn VandeKamp, Dylan Van Zee and Charlotte Van Zee and a brother Dean Van Zee of Knoxville.
Robert Van Zee was born August 10, 1929 in Pleasantville, Iowa the son of Carl and Carol (Kading) Van Zee.
Bobby, as he was known to many, lived his entire life in the Pleasantville area. He graduated from Pleasantville High School with the Class of 1947. He entered the United States Air Force in 1950 and was discharged in 1954. Following his discharge, he returned home and helped his father and brother, Charles, on the family farm. On April 20, 1956 he was united in marriage to Marilyn Louise Shelker at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. To this union two children were born: Teresa Lynn and Bruce Allen. Bob was very devoted to his career of farming. He purchased the home place and later added 160 acres to the original 240. He was a grain farmer and raised hogs.
Bob was very active in the Pleasantville community. He had been a 4-H leader and a Pleasant Grove Township Trustee. He served over 20 years on the Marion County Soil Conservation Board and later on the RCD Conservation Board. His belief was to make the land work for you and that you must work the land by tiling, building terraces and ponds. He was one of the first farmers to implement the no-till process in this area. He also helped to organize the Jaycee and Lions Clubs. He was a member of the Pleasantville Booster Club, Chamber of Commerce and had served on the Farm & Town Elevator Board. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pleasantville State Bank for 25 years.
Following retirement, Bob and Marilyn purchased a home in Florida where they spent the winter months. They had also traveled most of the United States and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Africa.
Bob passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the Mercy Medical Center, in Des Moines, at the age of 87 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bruce Allen Van Zee and siblings: Howard and Charles.
Those left to cherish Bob’s memory include his wife of 60 years, Marilyn; daughter, Teresa Van Zee of Pella; 3 grandchildren: Suzanne (Josh) VandeKamp, Kristin Scott and Bobby (Shannon) Van Zee; 4 great-grandchildren: Siena Scott, Madelyn VandeKamp, Dylan Van Zee and Charlotte Van Zee and a brother Dean Van Zee of Knoxville and many other family members and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Teresa Van Zee of Pella; 3 grandchildren: Suzanne (Josh) VandeKamp, Kristin Scott and Bobby (Shannon) Van Zee; 4 great-grandchildren: Siena Scott, Madelyn VandeKamp, Dylan Van Zee and Charlotte Van Zee and a brother Dean Van Zee of Knoxville.
Robert Van Zee was born August 10, 1929 in Pleasantville, Iowa the son of Carl and Carol (Kading) Van Zee.
Bobby, as he was known to many, lived his entire life in the Pleasantville area. He graduated from Pleasantville High School with the Class of 1947. He entered the United States Air Force in 1950 and was discharged in 1954. Following his discharge, he returned home and helped his father and brother, Charles, on the family farm. On April 20, 1956 he was united in marriage to Marilyn Louise Shelker at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. To this union two children were born: Teresa Lynn and Bruce Allen. Bob was very devoted to his career of farming. He purchased the home place and later added 160 acres to the original 240. He was a grain farmer and raised hogs.
Bob was very active in the Pleasantville community. He had been a 4-H leader and a Pleasant Grove Township Trustee. He served over 20 years on the Marion County Soil Conservation Board and later on the RCD Conservation Board. His belief was to make the land work for you and that you must work the land by tiling, building terraces and ponds. He was one of the first farmers to implement the no-till process in this area. He also helped to organize the Jaycee and Lions Clubs. He was a member of the Pleasantville Booster Club, Chamber of Commerce and had served on the Farm & Town Elevator Board. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Pleasantville State Bank for 25 years.
Following retirement, Bob and Marilyn purchased a home in Florida where they spent the winter months. They had also traveled most of the United States and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Africa.
Bob passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the Mercy Medical Center, in Des Moines, at the age of 87 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bruce Allen Van Zee and siblings: Howard and Charles.
Those left to cherish Bob’s memory include his wife of 60 years, Marilyn; daughter, Teresa Van Zee of Pella; 3 grandchildren: Suzanne (Josh) VandeKamp, Kristin Scott and Bobby (Shannon) Van Zee; 4 great-grandchildren: Siena Scott, Madelyn VandeKamp, Dylan Van Zee and Charlotte Van Zee and a brother Dean Van Zee of Knoxville and many other family members and friends.
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