Remembering Bill Zane

Our brother in the Lord Jesus, Bill Zane Sr., passed away on April 4 after a long battle with cancer.  Please continue to be in prayer for his wife Robin and the entire Zane family.

The following are tributes by the Zane children to their father which they shared on social media:

By Bill Zane Jr.:

Many of you knew him, many of you didn’t. I am the man I am today because of this man’s faithfulness.

This morning as I stood next to him, my beloved father breathed his last and finally saw Jesus. He’s been saying for weeks he’s ready to go see him and we all agreed. He was in pain and knew there was nothing more he could gain from this world. I long to share that perspective with him.

Besides my wife my dad was my best friend and I miss him dearly already. I want to drink coffee with him by the fire again, ask him questions about all kinds of things he knows, and hold his hand one more time. I’ll have to wait till Jesus calls me to do those things again.

He loved my wife and kids as his own and wrestled my boys like he wrestled me and my brother. It hurts. We’re sad. This isn’t the way we would have scripted it. But our God has been abundantly gracious to me and my family during this exceedingly painful season.

My dad made me a better man. The words “I’m grateful” don’t come close to expressing how I feel to have had a dad I miss so much already. I’ve cried more today than I have in a long long time and will continue to do so. Though I’m bawling now, I do it with hope-filled tears because Jesus suffered as my dad did to purchase my dad. Because of that my dad is at rest in His loving arms today.

Thank you all for your love. Please come meet this Jesus if you don’t know him.

By Brittany Zane:

I've dreaded yet anticipated this day for so long, but it still doesn't feel like it's really here. This morning, my daddy, my favorite man in the world, my safe place and comfort, went home to be with his Lord and Savior.

I'm so incredibly grateful to have had a dad that I loved so so much, shared so many memories with, and shared so many passions and traits. It has been a joy to spend the last couple months caring for him, having sweet conversations about nature, skiing, memories, what we've meant to each other, and most of all, his new Home. But it has been so hard to watch him suffer, and he was ready to go be with the Heavenly Father he so graciously emulated. The Heavenly Father that sacrificed his own Son to buy our freedom and forgiveness. I can't thank Him enough for giving me a dad that taught and displayed that so well. He loved so well, and even in his illness, was telling people about his great Savior. He was the rock in our family. I eagerly look forward to the day when I hear him call out "Britty!" and he wraps me up in his strong arms, tells me all about his time with Jesus and I get to worship with him once again.

Please pray for comfort and peace for my family. That we would run to Jesus as we have to wake up to a new reality each day, trying to find a new normal. And pray against the lies of the enemy that would have us believe anything less than the incredible Homecoming Dad has now received.

I love you, Daddy. I love you more and more.

Always,

Your little girl

By Becky Tingle:

In the early morning hours today April 4th, our dad ran into the arms of his Savior. He is no longer in pain, no longer suffering, he is healed and he is Home.

We are heartbroken to be left behind, without him. While we knew it was coming, the sting is still sharp.

This virus has been a curse and a blessing. While any plans for a life celebration will have to wait, we were able to spend extra time with dad and each other the past few weeks that would not have happened had “normal life” been going on. We are thankful for that. Please keep us in your prayers these next few days and weeks as we grieve and remember a great man who loved Jesus with his whole heart.

By Bob Zane:

My beloved dad passed away over the weekend.  He was incredibly smart and worked tirelessly to provide for us.  He was always willing to drop what he was doing to help others.  He embraced the quirkiness that we often teased him for, making it all the more humorous.  He taught me how to mow the lawn, build a garden, and how to (watch someone else) work on cars.  Though his earthly body began to die a few years ago, his fight finally ended on Saturday.  We knew this day was coming, yet it still feels shocking and so surreal.  Living ten hours away, I slowly said my goodbyes over a period of time.  Make no mistake, I am hurting and will miss him so much.  It will be painful to walk in the house where I grew up and not hear his voice welcoming me.  I wish I could have one more time working in garden, one more time on the ski lift, one more time going to find a Christmas tree, one more hug.  I am celebrating that he is with Jesus now, free from that bed, free from that wheelchair, free from pain.  I praise God for the life of my dad, William Robert Zane, Sr.