Morris "Morry" William VanZanten II's Obituary
Morris “Morry” William VanZanten II, age 72, passed away on Tuesday morning, April 14th, 2026 at Lake Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Muskegon. He was born June 26th, 1953 in Muskegon to Morris William VanZanten I and Edna Rose (Adams) VanZanten.
Morry was a man of diverse talents, a relentless sense of humor, and a deep love for his family and pets, he spent his life building and creating. His time in the automotive industry sparked a lifelong passion for NASCAR and model-building, a hobby he balanced with his skilled woodwork and craftsmanship by creating birdhouses. Music was the heartbeat of Morry’s life; he was a talented guitarist who appreciated everything from country classics to the energy of rock-n-roll. His entertainment center was a shrine to his favorite heroes from Marvel and DC, particularly Thor. Above all, Morry was a devoted animal lover, mainly with birds and dogs. He has gone to join his beloved four-legged companion, Bruno, and will be waiting patiently for Taco to join them once he has finished causing chaos here. He will be deeply missed by all who knew his creative spirit and kind heart.
Survivors include his significant other, Gail (Tomlinson); 2 children, Morris W. VanZanten III, Rachel L. (Rick) Josephson; Gail’s daughter, Lydia; 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Andy VanZanten, Mark VanZanten; and 1 sister, Jan (Dan) Gomez. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Monica VanZanten; and his brother, Dan VanZanten. In honoring Morry’s wishes, while having Scrib’s pizza, there will be private family services. Arrangements handled by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Sign the online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com
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