Obituaries
Russell Van Zandt
February 16, 1961 - November 1, 2023
- Funeral
Russell Van Zandt, 62, of St. Charles, IL, passed away unexpectedly in his home on November 1, 2023.
Russ was born on February 16, 1961 in Geneva Community Hospital. He grew up in Fox River Estates and attended Anderson Grade School and Haines Junior High.
Summer days were spent on Ronzheimer Road at Grandma Slaten’s house or with his gang of friends on Essex Avenue building forts and riding his Stingray bike.
He was a proud Venture, graduating from Valley Lutheran High School in 1978. Russ was on the track team (cross country) and student council.
He graduated from NIU in 1982 with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree.
He retired from Motorola/CSC as a Solution/Enterprise Architect in 2014 and previously worked at Old Second National Bank and Hitchcock Publishing.
Russ enjoyed running until last year when he switched to daily walks. He was an avid reader and still dabbled in Linux programming. He finished the Chicago Marathon on October 12, 2003.
He was survived by his sister, Valerie (Andy) Becker, niece Stacey Becker, nephew Eric Becker, and Uncles Dale (Roxanne) Slaten and Steve (Evelyn) Slaten.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Grace, Uncle John (Mike) Slaten, Aunt Linda and Uncle Jim Allen, and his grandparents.
There will be no visitation or service at this time. A memorial bench in Langum Park is being planned for Spring.
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Don Shaw from Crystal Lake, IL
"Russ was an extremely nice and intelligent guy when we went to Valley Lutheran HS together. He had a wry sense of humor and fit in with everyone he met. I'm so very sorry for his passing. God Bless Russ and his family."
Carole Gramse from OWH, IL
"Val, Andy and family, Tom and I are so sorry to hear of Russ passing. Please know that you are in our prayers as always. 🙏🏻♥️"
Carl Fries from Gilbert , AZ
"I enjoyed our time together as kids back in Fox River Estates (Valley View). You were a smart kid and kind to me, even though I came from a rough background. I'll never forget how I told you to run with us at recess if you wanted to lose weight. It warms my heart that you enjoyed running - wonder if that's where it all started. I wish we could have met up again in life, but I thank you for a fun time at Anderson grade school. The world lost a beautiful soul."
Jerry Schoeberlein from Aurora, IL
"I have entered my city and state from that time.Russ was a good friend of mine during our high school years. He had his own view of life and existence in this universe. Though sinking at times into a depressive temperament, he forced himself forward, in an Albert Camus kind of way. He was a deep, profound soul who looked for justice in this world and often found it lacking. Seeing this obituary, my mind is flooded with detailed memories, many banal but some of greater substance. I hope his life on this Earth was a good and happy one. I'm sorry to learn that he is no longer among us. I wish the best to his friends and family that remain."