Gaylon Van Zee
August 24, 1946 ~ January 3, 2020
Gaylon Charles Van Zee, 73, of Miller, passed away Friday, January 3, 2020 at Good Samaritan Society of Miller.
Funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2020 at the St. Lawrence Community Church with Pastor Glenn Stewart officiating. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery, Langford, SD. Visitation began at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, January 9, 2020 followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.
Gaylon was born August 24, 1946, in Huron, South Dakota to Tom and Helen (Jones) Van Zee. While growing up he attended the St. Lawrence Community Church with his family, and as a young boy, he asked Jesus to be his Savior.
As a child he attended country school in rural Hand County riding a horse to school each day and went on to graduate from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1964. He was a talented athlete and went on to play football at Huron College until he suffered a knee injury. After college he taught and coached at Sunshine Bible Academy. He met his wife Laela in the summer of 1971 in Aberdeen where he was leading a ministry team and she was the church secretary. A year later they were married and moved to Brookings where they helped start the New Life Educational Foundation as a ministry to college students. From there they were involved in many different ministries as well as mission trips to Mexico, Hong Kong and China.
Later they returned to Sunshine Bible Academy where Gaylon was Development Director and Laela school secretary. During this time, he also took over as the pastor of the small church in Gann Valley. After their years at Gann Valley, Gaylon and Laela became an active part of the Pleasant Valley Church community.
After returning to SBA they bought a small acreage close to Sunshine where Gaylon raised cattle and put up hay. He worked as a full-time carpenter during many seasons of life and remodeled the historic farmhouse on their family farm. He was an excellent finish carpenter and took real pride in his work. After retiring he remained on the farm working his cattle and putting up hay. He always loved the farm life. Eventually he worked at the grocery store in Miller doing carry out so he could visit and enjoy more people.
A passion of his throughout the years was coaching basketball and track where he touched many young lives. He loved deep spiritual conversations with good friends and telling stories of the good old days. He was known to many for his charisma, leadership and visionary spirit.
After suffering from minor strokes over the past decade, he suffered a major stroke in August of 2018 which marked the beginning of the last chapter of his life.
He is survived by his wife, Laela; five adult children: Victoria Day, Shannon (Janella) Van Zee, Jeremy (Janice) Van Zee, Matthew (Rebecca) Van Zee, and Shawna Van Zee; grandchildren: Garrett, Annaliese, Alexander, Daniella, Julianna and Jennifer Van Zee; siblings: Dale (Cheryl) Van Zee, Richard (June) Van Zee, Larry (Sherry) Van Zee, De Van Zee, and Ray Van Zee; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David; and infant son, Jordan.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Gaylon's arrangements.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
So sorry to see this you all our in our thoughts and prayers
So sorry to hear this. Praying for you all.
Sorry for you loss
Our Deepest Sympathy
Dr. Dick and Kathy Splichal
So many great memories with Gaylon, working at New Life, working on construction projects, and praying together at our wedding.
You are a very special person Gaylon. God mightyly used you in my life.
From all the messages, Gaylon was a man of God, mightily used by God to impact those around him. May that same God comfort you with His loving arms, "the Eternal God is your refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms".
Gaylon always had a smile and a witty remark for me, my Dad, or both.
My favorite memory is when he told me “yup, you run just like your Dad…” I started to say thanks, not realizing he wasn’t finished and he continued,” yup, like old workhorses and if we took the wagon off you’d fly right off the track!!!”
I’m so unbelievably sorry for your loss. I love you all
Great memories. Mine is of SBA choir tour to the west coast. Gaylon was a brave man traveling with 8 high school kids! Gaylon drove us to Vancouver and we saw the World's Fair there. I broke a tooth on this trip, and we stopped to see a dentist. ..and the stories go on…Thank you Gaylon for memories and love for Jesus.
Prayers for my brother GAYLON, now in HEAVEN free from pain and suffering. May GOD be with all my family at this time of loss.
So sorry for your loss. Layla, you and your family are in our loss and prayers. We are thinking of you. Our sympathies to you all
So sorry to hear of Gaylon’s passing and his strokes. He was my coach, Bible teacher, and biology teacher in the early 70’s. He made God so close and personal when he prayed calling God, “Sir!” He made the Bible come alive and gave me a hunger for the filling of the Holy Spirit when teaching of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. He changed the course of my life. He taught several of us to go door to door witnessing. What a joy, when the first man prayed to ask Jesus into his heart on that mission trip. I do remember him telling me to put the piano down or to quit pulling a plow when coaching us in track. 🤭😃 We did have a fast 880 yd relay team that went to state and held the school record for many years. I’m sure he received a “well done, throw good and faithful servant” when he entered those gates. We can only imagine what he’s experiencing. Love and prayers for Laela and his family. Take up the baton and carry on!
So sorry to read about Gaylon’s passing. It’s been many years since our families have crossed paths but I have many happy memories of Gaylon and your family. He will be missed by many. He was a kind man with a great smile!! Hugs to all of you. I’m glad I knew him!
Thoughts and prayers for the Van Zee family . I remember Gaylon most for being such an outstanding athlete. I was thinking today that I bet he and Coach Grubbs are probably designing "another play"!
Gaylon was my track coach, Bible teacher and Biology teacher at SBA in the 70's. He gave me high grades on my biology drawings. I think he mostly liked them because they were colorful. He made us memorize lots and lots of scripture. I appreciate that now. In track practice one day I was dry heaving on the side of the track. He stopped to check on me and I expected a little sympathy. Instead he said, "Well, Johnson, its about time you worked hard enough to feel sick. He really did push us and I was finally grateful for that at the first meet of each season! God bless you all. See you soon, Mr. VanZee.
My sympathy to the Van Zee family. So sorry for your loss. Praying for peace and comfort for your hearts.
We are friends of Shannon and Janella from their church in Omaha . We are so sad to hear of Shannon’s sweet fathers passing . Shannon clearly loves and cherishes him as a good man and loving father . Our prayers are with you all as you mourn this great loss . God bless
I remember Coach VanZee on track meet trips and teaching us to dissect a pig, but most of all I remember his inspiration to go all out for Jesus and whatever you do, do it for God. His influence still plays it's music in my life. I'm thankful for his life and faithfulness.
I still remember sitting in Gaylon's office at SBA feeling hopeless and wanting to take my own life. I don't even know how I got there, all I can say is I was led to go see him. After visiting with me for a while, Gaylon opened up his bible and took me for a walk through Psalm 51and talked to me about David's heart of repentance and how God restored him. He put his hand on my shoulder and led me as we prayed Psalm 51 together. Words cannot express how thankful I am for Gaylon who helped restore my hope that day! Go rest high on that mountain my friend! Our thoughts and prayers go up for you Laela and the family.
Gaylon was such a good example to me in many ways. We were roommates while attending Huron College together. We went to Huron College and ran on the Huron College track team together. So many fond memories of my friendship with him. I miss him.