Ralph T. Van Zante was born May 20, 1910 on a farm near Eddyville, IA to Tunis and Coral Van Zante. He passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at The Village in Indianola of natural causes.

A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 18, at The Village Maple Crest Centre Lounge. Graveside services will be held 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 19 in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Lime Springs, IA.

He was preceded in death by his wife Clarice Kaltenbach Van Zante in 1998, two brothers and four sisters. Ralph is survived by two sisters, Blanch A. Smith of Ottumwa, IA and Martha Yerkes of Kewanee, IL and stepson J. Bruce Kaltenbach of Sparks, NV.

He was a graduate of Eddyville High School, B.S. from William Penn College and a Masters from Drake University. He taught for 40 years, many of them at Washington Jr. High in Ottumwa. He is much revered as a well liked respected caring teacher.

Ralph made five landings in the Pacific Theater during WW II. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Eddyville Lions Club and enjoyed dancing, bridge and most of all, listening to the Cubs games. Memorials may be made to The Village Good Shepherd Fund 1203 N. "E" Street Indianola, IA 50125.