Zachary Joseph Easter (2015)

EASTER, NICHOLSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 12/20/2015 at 22:32:28

Overton Funeral Home
Indianola, Iowa
Sunday, December 20, 2015

ZACHARY JOSEPH EASTER, Indianola Iowa

June 2, 1991 - December 19, 2015

Biography

A Mass of Christian Burial for Zachary Joseph Easter, 24 who passed away Saturday, December 19, 2015 will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Indianola. Cremation will follow services and burial of cremains will be held at a later date in the Winterset Cemetery, Winterset, IA.

Zachary Joseph Easter was born June 2, 1991, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Myles and Brenda Easter. Zachary graduated from Indianola High School in 2010 and graduated from Grandview University in May 2015 with a Bachelors Degree of Finance. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA. After graduation he worked for Alternative Brokerage where he excelled in insurance sales and marketing. He became very close with all of his co-workers.

He was an Infantry Operations Specialist of the B Company First Battalion, 133rd Infantry of the United States Army National Guard. He was named Soldier of the Year in 2013 and was awarded the Commanders Coin of Excellence twice. Specialist Easter earned his airborne wings and was known as a leader in his platoon.

He was a sports enthusiast (Go Pack Go) and an avid hunter. He was most proud of his trophy 10-point buck. He had a great passion for health and fitness. He took first place in a National Crossfit Competition. He was a lover of music and used his passion for new music to help him through life.

Zac was kind, loving, compassionate, generous, and had a selfless soul. His larger than life spirit was uplifting for everyone who knew him. He never settled for average, had an extremely hard work ethic, and always set new goals. He was an overachiever, even when the odds were against him. Zac’s smile and laugh lit up any room. They were contagious. He loved spending time with his brothers, Myles and Levi, and his many friends. He always made sure they knew that he had their back.

Zac was a selfless person. His last wish was to make sure that no one else has to struggle from head trauma like he did. It is important to Zac to tell his story about Cranial Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a disease he attempted to manage for years. He suffered from severe migraines, brain tremors, slurred speech, blurred vision, and dementia among other physical ailments. He unselfishly is donating his brain, along with a detailed diary that documented his life, so that no one suffers the way that he did. He bravely fought this silent disease for years until he was no longer able. His spirit will always be with us. Zac asked that memorials be donated to the Concussion Legacy Foundation so that further research can be done on this disease. His final request is that people talk about CTE, support more research, and to value knowledge.

Zach is survived by his parents, Myles and Brenda Easter; brothers, Myles and Levi Easter; grandparents, Delores Nicholson and William K. and Meredith Easter. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Edward Nicholson.

Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where family will be present from 5 to 8 p.m. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church. On line condolences may be made to www.overtonfunerals.com .

Mass of Christian Burial
Wednesday December 23, 2015, 10 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

Visitation
Tuesday December 22, 2015, 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
Family will be present to greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m.

Prayer Service
Tuesday December 22, 2015, 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

Memorial Donations
Memorial Dodnations can be made to Concussion Legacy Foundation, Waltham, Ma