David Vander Zwaag

     David Vander Zwaag, age 59 of Sioux Center, Iowa died Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.

     A visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Monday January 30, 2023, at the Carmel Reformed Church of Rural Rock valley, Iowa.

     A family prayer service will be held at 9:15AM on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the Memorial Funeral Home.  Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

     A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday at the Carmel Reformed Church of Rural Rock Valley with Rev. Jeremy Wiersma officiating.

     The family requests that you “Come as you are”, feel free to wear items that represent how you interacted with David (i.e. sports attire, work wear etc.)

Please direct Memorial Donations to:

Setting Anchors

Their mission is to affirm and support foster families in the task of caring for foster children in their home.  We support families, thru prayer, trainings and necessary items for children in care.  We believe in building a community of like-minded families that can walk side by side, building others up and affirming our roles in the lives of children/families in foster care.

     David Lee Vander Zwaag was born on November 16, 1963, at Sioux Center, IA, the son of Peter D. and Marvelle (Sandbulte) Vander Zwaag.  Dave grew up on the family farm near Orange City, IA.  Dave attended school and graduated from MOC High School in 1982.  He attended Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon, graduated with an Auto Body diploma and worked at Sioux Body Shop in Sioux Center.  He then worked at Diamond Vogel in Orange City, before returning to Sioux Center to work at Nobl Labs and Sioux Pharm.  Dave enjoyed his work and his co-workers immensely.  He was united in marriage to Dorene Kramer on February 8, 1997, at the Maurice First Reformed Church.  During his life he enjoyed caring for his acreage by mowing, planting flowers and making it a beautiful home for his family.  He loved caring for his family and worked hard for them every day.  Dave’s passion was cars, cleaning them, driving them, and collecting them – he still has his first car – a 1975 Chrysler Cordoba.  Dave and Dorene’s dating years were mostly helping friends with auto racing at several local tracks.  Soon after being married Dave purchased a camper and enjoyed camping as a family with their favorite spot being Yankton, SD.  As the kids grew up Dave’s joy was watching them at their activities.  From football, soccer, gymnastics, to their true love of hockey.  All 3 children participated in hockey, which kept Dave driving many miles in South Dakota and Minnesota. The hockey family held a special place in Dave’s heart.  Dave was plagued with health concerns, starting with having a rare blood disorder, then having 3 kidney transplants, time on dialysis, major back surgery and finally the lymphoma and bladder cancer to which he fought hard and then succumbed.  Dave never let his health affect his daily living, - in fact his childhood nickname was Smiley.  This past Tuesday, January 24, 2023, Dave died at the age of fifty-nine at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.  His loving wife Dorene was at his side to experience him enter Heaven.

     He is survived by his wife, Dorene Vander Zwaag of Sioux Center; his children, Angel, Hope and David Vander Zwaag of Sioux Center; close family friend Cesar Sandoval of Sioux Falls; his parents, Peter and Marvelle Vander Zwaag of Orange City; siblings, Bruce (Amy) Vander Zwaag of Orange City; Pam (Mark) Sandbulte of Maurice; Mike (Loree) Vander Zwaag of Orange City and Mark (Jodi) Vander Zwaag of Orange City along with 3 nieces and 5 nephews.

     Dave was deeply loved by Dorene’s family - brothers and sisters-in-law, Allan (Carol) Kramer of Sioux Center; Gloria Warren of Orange City; Marcia (Eldon) Westra of Sioux Center; Loretta (Lyle) Meyer of Ireton; Norm (Glenda) Kramer of Hawarden and Carol Yacko of Hawarden; along with numerous nephews and nieces.

     He was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Arie and Tena Kramer and brother-in-law, John Warren.