David Zegers, 89, of David City, died Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Emerald Care Center in Columbus.
Memorial Mass Friday, November 7, 2025 10:30 A.M.
Parish Rosary 10 A.M.
St. Francis Catholic Church (Center)
Visitation Friday 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. at Church
Committal in the Church Cemetery
Rev. Adam Sughroue, Celebrant
David Lawrence Zegers was born November 08, 1935, in Garrison. He was the fourth of ten children born to Lawrence and Thelma (Kindler) Zegers. In his childhood days, he remembers working on the family farm.
David enlisted in the United States Navy and served 20 years in the Navy. He retired from Naval Service on September 30, 1975, at China Lake, California. During his Naval Service, he served in the aviation field as a jet mechanic. He served on numerous Aircraft Carriers with the attached Air Wings, as well with squadrons in Naval Air Station Key West, Florida; Naval Air Station Virginia Beach, Virginia; Naval Air Station Miramar, California, and Naval Air Station China Lake, California. David had an distinguished Naval career, a major highlight of his career included:
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class David L. Zegers, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on the night of December 23, 1961, while on authorized liberty from U.S.S. MIDWAY (CVA-41). Proceeding to his hotel room in Oakland, California, when he observed a man with a rifle threatening three women from the open doorway of their room, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Zegers calmly approached the man, who was obviously unbalanced, engaged him in conversation, and succeeded in coaxing him from the room into a service elevator, stepping out as the elevator door closed. Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Zegers then notified the management of the situation and, upon learning that the armed man had inquired at the desk for the manager and had returned to the upper floors, quickly rushed back to the room occupied by the three women, remaining there until the police arrived and apprehended the deranged man.”
He married Lavonne Fadeff on September 21, 1963, who passed away on September 27, 1987. David then married June Mattingly on August 12, 1988, who passed away on October 16, 2000.
He is survived by three stepchildren that he adopted 1971 – Debra Davis (Fadeff) of Spokane Washington, David Zegers (Fadeff) of Seguin Texas, and Daniel Zegers (Fadeff) of Fullerton Nebraska, 10 Grand Children and 21 Great-Grand Children. He is survived by 2 of his 10 Brothers/Sisters – Elizabeth (Price) Zegers of Modesto California and Robert Zegers of Lawson Missouri.
David is preceded in death by: parents: Lawrence and Thelma Zegers, Spouses: Lavonne (Craig) Zegers, June (Mattingly) Zegers, Brothers: Richard Zegers, John Zegers, Peter Zegers, James Zegers, Sisters: Phyliss (Erb) Zegers, Roselynn (Buck) Zegers, Lawrie (Egger) Zegers.
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