Rex "Duke" E. VanZant, 81, of Ossian, passed away Jan. 16, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He was born Aug. 26, 1934, in Huntington County to Edith (Wilma) VanZant. He married Joyce A. Krick Dafforn VanZant March 17, 1994, in Las Vegas; she survives.
He worked for Dana Corp. in Fort Wayne heading up the tool crib, retiring in 1991 after 30 years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959 and was a recipient of the Good Contact Medal. He was a member of the Elk's Lodge 796 and the American Legion Post 111. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge in Bluffton and the Eagles Lodge in Fort Wayne.
He enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events.
Surviving are daughters, Kelli VanZant of Ossian, Tammy (Bob) Mullens of Bluffton, Kristy Squires of Bluffton; stepchildren, Kriss (Kirk) Kohart of Angola and Brent (Manju) Dafforn of Issaquah, Wash.; grandchildren, Cara (Adam) Frolicher, Danille (Todd) Bebout, Denny (Erika) Squires III, and Sara Ruble; step-grandchildren, Nisha (Eric) Schwebach, Kalie (Brendan) Caprio, Kent Kohart, Joey Dafforn, and Hunter Kohart; great-grandchildren, Braxton Bebout, Easton Frolicher, Mason and Averi, just born Max Squires and soon-to-be-born baby Schwebach in April 2016.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Rhonda Squires.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, a Goodwin-Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel with Pastor Greg Comp officiating.
Calling hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, and an Elks' service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Burial will be at Hoverstock Cemetery in Zanesville. The U.S. Army and American Legion Post 111 will conduct military graveside rites at the cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the family in lieu of flowers.
Online condolences at: www.thegmcfamily.com