Van Zante, Francis M. 1913-2001

VAN ZANTE, MCREYNOLDS, ELSCOTT

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2005 at 21:10:29

Francis M. Van Zante, 87, of Pella died Thursday morning at Pella Regional Health Center.

His funeral will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at The Reformed Church in Otley. Rev. Norman J. Schouten will officiate. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.
Visitation will be all day Sunday with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home.

Francis MacVan Zante was born Dec. 3, 1913 near Otley. He was an only son born to Albert D. and Elsie McReynolds Van Zante. He attended country grade school in Marion and Jasper counties and graduated from Monroe High School in 1931.

On Oct. 22, 1941 he married Ellen Elscott at her parents' farm home near Taintor. To this union a son, Norman Lee and two daughters, Carlene Mae and Louise Fern were born.

The Van Zantes lived on a farm north of Pella all their married lives until moving into Pella. In 1978, they moved to Pella to their home at 308 Union Street, although Mr. Van Zante continued to farm. He remained active in farming and the community all his life.

He served on the Pella Community School Board, Pella Rural Electric Cooperative Board and the Otley Cooperative Exchange Board.

He had been a 4-H leader and Board of Supervisors member in Jasper County.

He was also a member of The Reformed Church in Otley. There, he taught Sunday School and served as an Elder on the consistory for many years.

Mr. Van Zante was devoted to his church and farming and enjoyed fishing and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Agnes Shannon and Cordelia Marie Nolten.

Surviving are his wife, Ellen; three children and their spouses; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They and their families are Norman and Mary Van Zante of Pella, Kyle Van Zante, Mackenzie Van Zante, Mitchell Van Zante and Megan Van Zante; Laura and Craig Van Sant, Blaise Van Sant, Brynna Van Sant and Bradyn Van Sant; Ryan and Karla Van Zante; Jaren and Stephanie Van Zante, Alex Van Zante and Nicholas Van Zante; Carlene and Bernard Van Der Pol of Sully, Kayleen and Al Miller, Alise Miller and Carson Miller; Kenneth and Jill Van Der Pol and Max Van Der Pol; Louise and Brian Wilson of Prairie City, Adam Wilson and Luke Wilson.

Memorials may be made to Otley Reformed Church.

The Oskaloosa Herald, May 18, 2001