Zach Churchill
- September 8, 1979 - May 7, 2012
- Bedford, Iowa
of Zach's Passing
- INSTEAD OF FLOWERS memorials may be directed to Greater Regional Hospice.
Message from the Family
Thank you for your support during this difficult time. Please enhance this tribute to Zach by adding your memories and photos.
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Arrangements made by
Ritchie Funeral Home
1406 Madison Avenue
Bedford,
IA
50833
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Memories & Candles
Previous
“I am heartbroken to hear about Zach's passing. I have fond memories of working with him at the Peppercorn Duck Club. I was a culinary student and was...Read More »
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1 of 31 | Posted by: Soni Sloan - Kansas City, MO
“Ronda and Monte,
My heart goes out to you and your family.
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2 of 31 | Posted by: Debra (Sunderman) Dahl - Phoenix, AZ
“Zach and I were in Tae Kwon Do together in Clarinda during our teen years. While we drifted apart after that, I remember Zach as a really trustworthy...Read More »
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3 of 31 | Posted by: Erik Sunderman - San Jose, CA
“Ronda & Monte, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My heart breaks for you.... I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
”
4 of 31 | Posted by: Kandie (Campbell) Dunsworth - OK
“We had the pleasure to meet Zach and enjoy his delicious meals during our stays at Coco Key. He was part of the team that opened the resort and took...Read More »
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5 of 31 | Posted by: Pat & Bill Moses - IL
“Monty, Rhonda and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
”
6 of 31 | Posted by: Vicki Sunderman - Houston, TX
“Monte,Ronda, & family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. In viewing the video, I especially liked the...Read More »
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7 of 31 | Posted by: Teri Larson - New Market, IA
“We started as co-workers nearly two years ago and quickly became close friends. He was an extremely talented chef whom I soon realized was rather...Read More »
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8 of 31 | Posted by: Chris Loudermilk - Orlando, FL
“Zach will be mssed but his courage and unassuming ways will be cherised. We opened CoCo Key Hotel and Water Park together and he was a blast. Fun...Read More »
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9 of 31 | Posted by: Deloria Nelson - Orlando, FL
“Mr and Mr Churchill,
May God help you through this time of celebrating Zach's life. He was a wonderful friend and there was never a dull moment...Read More »
”
10 of 31 | Posted by: Kim Jacoby Shepherd - Clarinda, IA
“Zach was such a fun-loving, funny & caring person. He will be missed by all who knew him. I have some great memories of growing up with Zach, from...Read More »
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11 of 31 | Posted by: Lisa Rankin Lawson - Ankeny, IA
“I spent alot of time with Zach over the last 6 years. We worked together at 3 different places, and were roommates as well. He was a great co-worker...Read More »
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12 of 31 | Posted by: Howard Harrison - Orlando, FL
“I was shocked to hear of Zachs passing. The two of us used to work together at Federal Mogul in Maryville Missouri. We used to have alot of fun...Read More »
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13 of 31 | Posted by: Kyle Smith - Brookfield, MO
“With Zach around there was never a dull moment. He always made everyone around him laugh. I am blessed to have known him. He will be missed by many....Read More »
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14 of 31 | Posted by: Maggie George Wilson - Maryville , MO
“Zac will be missed and loved always. He was a very close friend of mine at the Hotel CocoKey where he worked as a managing Chef. We used to ride...Read More »
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15 of 31 | Posted by: Jason Finnegan 
- FL
“I have so many fun and crazy memories of Zach. He will be greatly missed. Robbie and I have lost a true.
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16 of 31 | Posted by: Dannielle Sturm - MO
“i remember when we were young kids still in elemetry school my family and his family were camping at Lake of Three Fires,and one morning Zach asked...Read More »
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17 of 31 | Posted by: josh rusco
“Gone but will never be forgotton, Zach was the most brave and upbeat person I have ever met. He always amazaed me with his look on life and how much...Read More »
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18 of 31 | Posted by: frank fry - Orlando, FL - friend
“My prayers and thoughts are with Zack's family. My son was in serious condition from a motorcycle accident in Florida and Zack came to visit him. He...Read More »
”
19 of 31 | Posted by: Mary Finnegan - Exeter, NH
“I'm sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
”
20 of 31 | Posted by: Ashley Porter - Winterset, IA
“Monte and Rhonda,
So very sorry to hear about Zach, he was a great kid. It was nice to get to know him better when we worked at Federal Mogul. ...Read More »
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21 of 31 | Posted by: Boyd Hawn - Bedford, IA - Friend
“I met Zach when I was going through a hard time in my life. And Zach helped me , he gave me a place to stay and countless fun times out that i will...Read More »
”
22 of 31 | Posted by: David Smith - Rochester, NY
“Monte and Ronda
Please accept our condolences on the passing of Zach. Our prayers and thought go out to you and your family. Take care and hope to...Read More »
”
23 of 31 | Posted by: Henry and Marcia Russell - IA
“Ronda and Monte,
It is always hard to understand the why's of this world yet we know that God has a plan as we may never know until we see him in...Read More »
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24 of 31 | Posted by: Chad Beemer - Elk Horn, IA
“Monte, Ronda & Cody,
Zach was a funny, wonderful young man.. His journey is done and he's in the loving arms of God.. Our love and sympathy to...Read More »
”
25 of 31 | Posted by: Short & Terry DeVoe - Bedford, IA
“Ronda and Monte, We are so sorry to hear of Zach's death. I recall our teaching next door to each other in Conway, and Zach's impending birth. Our...Read More »
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26 of 31 | Posted by: Ken and Linda Smith - MO
“Zach was at first an employee and soon became a good a friend. Zach was always there for me and I am blessed to call him a friend. He is one of the...Read More »
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27 of 31 | Posted by: Sam Cross - Kansas city, MO
“Monte, Ronda, and Cody
Our warmest thoughts and prayers for you during this time. We are so blessed to know and love Zach. He was such a wonderful...Read More »
”
28 of 31 | Posted by: Tammi and Corey Giesken - MO
“Monte, Ronda, Cody, & Beth- Zach was such a great joy to be around. He was a good friend to all- caring, supportive, generous, & SO FUNNY! He was...Read More »
”
29 of 31 | Posted by: Erin Smith Parks - IA - Friend
“He was one of thebest. So sorry for your loss. I remember we had some good times when we were younger. If you need anything give us a call.
”
30 of 31 | Posted by: Debbie Russell - Diagonal, , IA
“Monte and Ronda,
We are thinking of you and Cody of fond memories of the boys when you lived by us on Lone Mountain. Just remember God takes the...Read More »
”
31 of 31 | Posted by: Wanda and Bob Woldruff - bEDFORD, IA
Funeral services for Zach Churchill, age 32, of Bedford, who died Monday, May 7, 2012 at his parent's home will be held Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 3 p.m. at the New Life Missionary Church. Visitation will be held at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford on Friday from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM; on Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 6:00 PM with the family greeting friends from 4-6. Interment will be held at Washington Cemetery in Gravity. INSTEAD OF FLOWERS memorials may be directed to Greater Regional Hospice. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Zachary Lee Churchill was born September 8, 1979, in Corning, Iowa the son of Monte D. Churchill and Ronda Jean (Matheny) Churchill. He grew up attending school in Bedford, graduating with the Class of 1998. During his high school years, Zach enjoyed participating in football and wrestling. After high school graduation, he attended NIACC in Mason City for a year. He then went to work for Federal Mogul in Maryville, Missouri for five years. Zach always had a passion for cooking and wanted to attend culinary school, so in 2005, he went to New York to attend The French Culinary Institute. While in New York he worked for De Gustibus at Macy's and The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA.) He then moved to Kansas City where he worked at Pacific Grill and later the Peppercorn Duck Club at the Hyatt Regency. He also worked at the Zebra Room in the Aladdin Hotel. Zach accepted the opportunity to move to Orlando, Florida to work for the General Manager from the Aladdin Hotel. He lived in Orlando for four years with the last two spent being the Executive Chef at Coco Keys Resort which he helped open.
Zach enjoyed the outdoors when he was young by camping, fishing and hunting with family and friends. He liked collecting guns and knives. While in Kansas City he developed a passion for Harley Davidson Motorcycles. He was happy to be able to ride all year long while living in Florida. Zach was always a 'free spirit' possessing an independent nature. He was never satisfied with his culinary efforts and was always pushing himself to develop new skills to make things better. He could take leftovers and turn them into a gourmet meal with no effort at all! Zach insisted that his whole family visit him and do the attractions in Orlando during the summer of 2011. Adysen and Lilyen were thrilled to go to Florida to visit Uncle Zach and see "Princesses." The last two years, Zach has valiantly battled cancer, returning home to Bedford one month ago to live with his family.
Left to cherish the memories of this wonderful son, brother, grandson and friend are his parents, Monte and Ronda Churchill of Bedford; his brother, Cody Churchill and wife Elizabeth and their girls, Adysen and Lilyen and new son, Eli Zachary of Grimes, Iowa; paternal grandparents, Bill and Florine Churchill of Bedford; maternal grandmother, Cathy Sixkiller of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; and a step-grandmother, Marilyn Beck of Lenox, Iowa; along with many, many friends and co-workers.
Preceding Zach in death is his grandfather, Joe Matheny; and a step-grandfather, Dean Sixkiller.
Zach will be missed by his entire family and many friends.
We will hold the memories of his free spirit, wit and wisdom
as a wonderful gift of encourament to each of us.
He will live on in our hearts forever.
Visitation
May 11, 2012
12:00 PM
to 4:00 PM
Ritchie Funeral Home
1406 Madison Avenue
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-3312
Visitation
May 12, 2012
12:00 PM
to 6:00 PM
Ritchie Funeral Home
1406 Madison Avenue
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-3312
Get Directions
Celebration of Life
May 13, 2012
3:00 PM
to 4:00 PM
New Life Missionary Church
301 Pollock Avenue
Bedford, IA 50833
Interment
May 13, 2012
4:00 PM
Washington Cemetery
Gravity, IA
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