Zachary Luke Braatz (1988-2010)

BRAATZ, LOVIG, WRIGHT, OTTOSON, SHINSKY, OWENSON, LOVIG, MCCAMBRIDGE, KURSZEWSKI

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 11/19/2010 at 07:58:03

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, October 13, 2010.

Zachary Luke Braatz of Pleasant Hill passed away at home on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at the age of 22. Zach was born in Ames on March 5, 1988, the son of Jerry and Michelle (Lovig) Braatz.
Zach was employed by Doll Distributing since 2002 where he worked as a delivery driver. He enjoyed being known as "The Budman" and loved his co-workers and customers very much and was equally as proud to call them friends.

Zach graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in 2006 and attended Iowa State University. He approached everyday with a tremendous zeal and the inherent ability to make others feel better about themselves with his tenderness, compassion and sense of humor. He had a steadfast love of music and playing the classical guitar. His favorite past times were playing the latest video games on his big screen TV with surround sound, his multiple guitars, golf and singing to his beautiful daughter, Bella Marie.

He was also a devoted Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers fan, which he acquired from his paternal grandmother, Joan. Zach thought this would be the year to win the Super Bowl because his grandmother would be their cheerleader from heaven. She passed away in January, 2009. Now she has her first grandson to help lead the cheers.

Zach will be incredibly missed by his daughter, Bella; son, Grant; parents, Jerry (Sandra) Braatz of Waukee and Bonnie Braatz of West Des Moines; brother, Erek Wright of West Des Moines sisters, Nicole Braatz and Jenna Ottoson of Waukee; paternal grandfather, Leo Shinsky of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; maternal grandparents, Carroll and Elaine Lovig of Story City, Noel and Sharon Owenson of Huxley; and many other close relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his biological mother, Michelle (Lovig) Braatz; grandmothers, Joan Shinsky, Nancy McCambridge; and grandfather Clarence Kurszewski.

Services were held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The visitation was Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service was on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to Bank of America for Bella Braatz. Online contributions may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com. If sending flowers, please have them delivered to the Sacred Heart Parish Center.