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Gary Van Zeeland, age 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 11th, after a brief illness, surrounded by the extraordinary love of family.

Gary was born to Peter & Ceil Van Zeeland in Little Chute in 1942. Growing up, Dad told us that he was never mischievous. He claimed it was always his brothers that got him into trouble. Like the time he crossed what was Highway 41 at the time, on his tricycle, to go with his brother to visit his Grandpa who lived two miles away.

When Dad was in high school, he started a rock and roll band called “Gary Scott & the Eccos”. Since he had no clue how to play the guitar and really couldn’t carry a tune, he needed to recruit some musical talent to make that happen. The fact that he couldn’t do either of those things didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion. His theory was “fake it until you make it”. Dad would go to school during the day, work at his father’s gas station after school, and then went to perform with his band 3 nights a week. Dad was an extremely hard worker, something he learned from his father.

We always enjoyed asking Dad how he met Mom, and we’re still laughing at Dad’s re-telling of this story during his last few days (keep in mind he had all the hand gestures and eye rolls to go along with the story). He would always say, while minding his own business at the roller-skating rink at the Holiday Inn at Kelly Lake, this girl kept going around and around. And each time she would pass by Dad sitting on the side, she would look over at him and point him out to her friends. After seeing her do this so many times, he said he just couldn’t take it anymore, so he decided to give in to her flirting and go talk to her. By the end of the night, he asked her if she would like to go out on a date with him the next day, for which he then showed up 3 hours late (and blamed it all on his brother Chuck, of course). Luckily, Mom had a forgiving heart and still went out with him anyhow. From then on, it was love at first sight. On June 22nd, our parents would’ve celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

After Mom & Dad married, Dad continued working at his father’s gas station and playing in his band, but also started booking other bands into bars and nightclubs as well. He was a very hard worker, going from one job to the next, with very little down time in between. Ultimately his love and success as a talent agent took over and at age 21, he left his father’s station and started a full-time entertainment booking agency, Gary Van Zeeland Talent. This started as a side job in an upstairs bedroom in their home, and eventually grew into a business that employed 9 other agents and 3 administrative professionals. Anyone who worked for Dad would agree that he was a tough employer (his kids included); however, numerous people that had the opportunity to work for him credited his mentorship for the success in their lives as they branched out on their own in various other businesses. He instilled a strong work ethic in many. Dad served as one of the Founders/President of the International Theatrical Agents Association (ITAA) for several years and had decades of success in the entertainment world booking big name entertainment across the U.S. and overseas.

Dad was an entrepreneur at heart. Other businesses he started and successfully operated included the building of multiple apartment buildings, duplexes, developing residential subdivisions, purchasing and selling of investment properties in various locations throughout the U.S., trophy hunting booking agency, and an employment recruiting agency, to name a few.

During his life, Dad enjoyed traveling with his wife, his kids and also with his friends. Dad and Mom together had the opportunity to see and experience many beautiful places in the world. Some of the trips were for sightseeing and others were hunting excursions, which each time added to Dad’s collection of trophy mounts in his prize game room. Other passions in his life included spending as much time as possible with his kids, attending all the events we were in and always cheering us on. He also loved downhill skiing, water skiing, fishing, hunting, and just loved to be busy.

Gary and Carole never lost their passion and joy for the place it all began, and that was at Kelly Lake where they first met. They have enjoyed numerous summers at their cottage on Kelly Lake and it has always been one of their happy places. This also allowed them to spend so much time with their children and grandchildren, who also loved being at the lake. Back in the day when us kids were younger, Dad was instrumental in helping the kids on the lake form the Kelly Lake Naiads Ski Club. For years, he devoted countless hours every Saturday & Sunday in the boat pulling the kids around the lake to practice their acts for the show, and he loved every minute of it.

In 1982, Dad almost lost Mom in a horrific accident in Africa, and Dad was devastated. By the grace of God, Mom survived and Dad spent years taking such good care of her. This caretaking effort came full circle, as Mom has taken such good care of Dad over the past several years as his health problems mounted, even though it was at times very hard on her. The two of them together have shown our family the true meaning of love and devotion for one another.

Gary is survived by and will be greatly missed by his wife: Carole, and his children: Jay (Lois) Van Zeeland, Kelly (Stu) Goetsch, & Penny (Joel) Grissman.

Gary was blessed with many beautiful grandchildren, named in order by age: Jordan Grissman, Becky Brown (fiancé Mahir), Kasey (Tyler) Vande Voort, Kiana Koch (fiancé Andy), Sydnie Van Zeeland (special friend Zac), Taylor Grissman, Riley Van Zeeland, Austyn Grissman and Kendra Grissman. And great grandchildren, Aubrey & Max Vande Voort.

Gary is survived by his brothers, sister and special others: Paul (Ar) Van Zeeland, Greg (Pat) Van Zeeland, Betty Jo (Gary) Hooyman; in-laws: Karen (Dave) DePagter, Cathy Metzler, Tom Metzler, Sue Van Zeeland, and special others: Daryl (Sue) Koch. Gary was preceded in death by his parents Pete & Ceil Van Zeeland, brother Chuck Van Zeeland, in-laws Harlan & Faye Metzler, & brother-in-law Johnny Metzler.

The funeral liturgy for Gary will be held at 4:30 pm on Monday, June 19th at St. John’s Nepomucene Catholic Church, located at 411 Vandenbroek Street in Little Chute, with Father Ron Belitz officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Church from 1:00 pm until the time of service.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Dan Koster, to all of Dad’s other wonderful physicians, and last, but not least, the staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital Fremont 4 for the attentive and compassionate care they provided Dad and our family in his last days.

In lieu of flowers or monetary donations, please take your loved ones out for ice cream and spend quality time together in Gary’s honor. Our Dad loved his ice cream almost as much as he loved spending time with his family.

And to our Dad: Dad, you loved us fiercely and always put us before everything in your life. Mom was so lucky to have you for a husband of almost 60 years, and we were just as blessed to have you for a Dad/Grandpa. We pray that you will continue to watch over us, as you have always done, until we meet again. And we all hope to make you as proud of us as we are of you. Love you more and most!

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