Robert Van Zante

MADISON-Robert Van Zante, age 65, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at the HospiceCare Center, after a year long battle with Parkinsons disease and brain cancer. He was born on March 21, 1943, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Raymond and Jeanette Van Zante. Bob became a follower of Jesus during his years at Iowa State University. He served as a short term missionary in Japan from 1967 until 1969. Bob married Barbara Durbin on Aug. 22, 1970, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He and Barb served with The Navigators in Collegiate Ministry in Germany and various campuses in the United States. Bobs passion was to help others to follow Jesus. He also enjoyed photography and gardening, but most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara of Madison; children, Brian (Margery) Van Zante, and their children, Robbie, Brianne and Sarah, all of Japan, Bruce (Cecille) Van Zante, and their children, Jonathan and Nathaniel, all of the Philippines, Becky Van Zante of Shepherds Home, Union Grove, Wis., and Beth (Leon) Keller, and their children, Joshua and Evan, all of Whitewater, Wis.; his mother, Jeanette Van Zante of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother, Don (Christy) Van Zante of Houston, Texas; sisters, Alice Van Zante and Ruth (Ed) Scott, both of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Martha (Jerry) Grosskopf of Denver, Colo. and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Van Zante. Funeral services will be held at DOOR CREEK CHURCH, 6602 Dominion Drive, Madison, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2008. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens, Madison. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. Memorials may be made to Shepherds Memorial Fund, 1805 15th Ave., Union Grove, WI 53182, where Becky has lived for the last 10 years. A special thank you to the HospiceCare Center for the care they gave Bob.