March 19, 2024

Eric Jon Van Zee

Feb. 22, 2017

Eric Jon Van Zee, 54, of Holiday Lake near Brooklyn, died Feb. 22, 2017, at his home. A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Victor United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Davis officiating. Pianist/organist will be Fred Stiefel accompanied by Betty Stiefel on flute. Pallbearers will be Tom Boyle, Bart Bucklin, Roger Nearmyer, Dennis Robinson, Scott Schabaker and Lonnie Stogdale. Burial will be in Kent Cemetery near Holiday Lake. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Eric Van Zee Memorial Fund.

Eric was born June 19, 1962, at Skiff Hospital in Newton, the son of Ed and (Adrena) Andi Meyerink Van Zee. He was baptized at the Newton Reformed Church and made his profession of faith at the Victor United Methodist Church.

Eric was raised in Newton, and was a 1980 graduate of Newton High School. He later earned a BA degree in business at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Following his education, he was employed with Northern Telecom and traveled throughout the United States as a technician. In 1995, he moved to Holiday Lake, and was employed with Cooperative Telephone Company in Victor, and this is when he met the love of his life, Colleen Price.

On Aug. 3, 1996, he was united in marriage with Colleen at the Victor United Methodist Church and the couple continued living at Holiday Lake. His career with Cooperative Telephone Company had spanned 22 years.

Eric will be remembered as a loving son, husband, father, brother and grandpa. Some of his favorite hobbies were fishing, camping, kayaking and spending time with his grandchildren. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan and always loved watching or listening to any of the Iowa college teams on TV or radio. He was always smiling, upbeat and making sure his family and friends were happy. He was a rock!

Those to mourn his passing are his wife, Colleen of Holiday Lake; his son, Adam Nowotny and his wife, Amber of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Damien, Aiden, Lily and Osiris of Cedar Rapids; his father and mother, Ed and (Adrena) Andi Van Zee of Newton; his mother-in-law, Ruth Price of Marengo; and two brothers, Cary Van Zee of Kellogg and Brad Van Zee and his wife, Candy, of Newton. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; and father-in-law, Melvin Price.