Wayne Carroll Zegers, a lifetime resident of Sully, went home to his Lord Jesus Christ on Nov. 24, 2019. Following interment at Sully Cemetery, a funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, at The Gathering Place at Sully First Reformed Church. Memorials have been designated for Willowbrook Adult Day Care Center in Newton or St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
Wayne was born in Jasper County on Mar. 6, 1937, to John and Cora (Molenaar) Zegers. Wayne attended Sully school and graduated from Sully High in 1955 along with his bride, Ileen Van Der Zyl. Wayne and Ileen were married Sept. 12, 1958.
Wayne accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at a church retreat right after he graduated from high school. He was a lifetime member of Sully First Reformed Church. Wayne shared his beautiful bass voice throughout his lifetime, as a member of the Alleluia Choir and Alleluia Quartet. Wayne loved to sing, hum, and whistle! Wayne is now leading the bass section of the most magnificent choir . . . singing praises to God for eternity!
Wayne was a master mechanic. His father taught him at a young age to fix any motor, and Wayne was still tinkering with motors when Parkinson’s disease forced him to move out of his home of 45 years. Wayne worked for his father, then Star Auto until 1979, and then Vermeer Manufacturing. Wayne retired from Vermeer in 2001, and then was a consultant for his son at BZ Auto Co. If anything in heaven has a rattle or squeak, Wayne has already fixed it.
Wayne loved sports! As a high school football star for Sully High, he continued to be sideline coach and biggest fan for his three children and seven grandchildren. Many miles were driven to all the games - rain, sleet, snow, sunshine - for football, basketball, baseball, golf, cross-country. Wayne thoroughly enjoyed cheering on his family and his favorite teams – Lynnville-Sully Hawks and Iowa State.
Wayne was an active member of the Sully Lions Club for 50 years. He had so much fun serving food at whatever the venue – Tulip Time, Fourth of July, After Prom Party. His grandchildren loved him making funnel cakes and corn dogs for their after-prom parties!
Wayne was a Sully firefighter and EMT for 45 years. His children will never forget the fire phone ringing in the middle of the night and Dad rushing out the door – hoping he had remembered to pull on his pants and shirt!
Wayne loved to serve his family and community, never wanting to be in the spotlight but always willing to help. While Parkinson’s disease took many of Wayne’s passions, hobbies, and enjoyments away from him in the last few years, his love for family, friends, and fixing things remained.
Wayne’s relatives greeting him in heaven are John and Cora Zegers, Ralph and Frances Van Der Zyl, Robert and Lavonne Evers, Clarence and Darlene Van Der Zyl, and Lucile De Penning.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Ileen, of 61 years; his children: Murray and Judy Zegers, Brad and Michele Zegers, Tina and Brian Renaud; his grandchildren: Kelly and Matt Kauffman, Dan and Kelsie Zegers, Bailey Zegers (fiancé Ryan Schimper), Baker Zegers, Scott and Alissa Bruggeman, Aaron and Morgan Renaud, Natalie Renaud, and Gabrielle Renaud; his great-grandchildren: Chris, Chase, and Keyleigh Kauffman, Addison and Ellie Zegers, and Kyla and Hollis Bruggeman; his brother Darrell and Linda Zegers; his sister-in-law Millie and Larry Whetstine, brothers-in-law: Howard De Penning and Roger and Bev Van Der Zyl; and several nieces and nephews.
