Ernest E. "Ernie" Van Zandt

Ernest Edward “Ernie” Van Zandt of Des Moines passed away March 3, 2012, at Bright Kavanagh House. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, followed by burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Ernie was born October 11, 1925, in Norwoodville, Iowa, to George William & Ethel May (Waltz) Van Zandt. He and his wife of 59 years, LaVerna Bernice Johnston, raised five children on the east side of Des Moines. Ernie retired after working 30 years as a mechanic for Marquette Cement. He loved to fish and hunt with his friends and family. Ernie played city league softball for many years and bowled on a Marquette Cement bowling league. He enjoyed watching his grandkids play ball at Grandview Little League and on City Leagues as they grew up. In his later years, Ernie enjoyed feeding birds, rabbits and squirrels in his backyard and meeting his friends for coffee at McDonalds.

Ernie is survived by four daughters, Bonnie (John) Kulberg of Wellton, AZ, Becky (Terry) Brennan of Des Moines, Kathy (Gary) Brandenburg of Otley, IA, and Sarah Van Zandt of Indianola, IA; brothers, George (Phyllis) Van Zandt and Harry Van Zandt; 10 grandchildren: Jackie (George) Link, Julie (Daniel) Ott, , Ernie Westmark, Melissa (Kelly) Bennett, Mike (Lindsey) Knox, Amy (Ryan) Dickson, Michele (Chris) Mease, Jeff and Jason Brandenburg, and Chase Van Zandt; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Ernie Van Zandt was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son Mike, a grandson, Michael, and siblings, Barbara and Leroy Van Zandt, Alice Rocha, and Donna Waugh.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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