Benjamin Jarrod Zarzeck, born Nov. 1, 1988, at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., left for heaven on Saturday, Oct. 22,2011, to be with his best friend, Blue.
Ben was a quiet and caring person that would give his most prize possession to a friend if he though they needed it more.
Five and a half years ago, Ben met the girl of his dreams, Tiffany. They had the joy of having a beautiful daughter, Kelsey Renae Zarzeck, and he loved being a daddy to his baby girl.

He was a competitive athlete and talented soccer player, even his first word was "ball." He played for the Troy Rec League, Metro United and Glen Ed Soccer Clubs and was a four year varsity starter at Triad High School in Troy, Ill. And he still played at every opportunity. He played foot-ball, baseball and loved to play golf with family and friends. Ben learned his love for fishing growing up at the family cabin and there was nothing he loved more than to be out on his boat fishing or just getting ready for the next trip.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Eugene & Mary Miller, Carolyn Depreist, Gus and Benny Zarzeckl, Louis and Mary Luksza; grandfather, Ronald Zarzeck; grandmother, Ruth Mathenia, aunt, Patti Oldham; uncle, Stephen Zarzeck; great-uncles, Doug Luksz and Jack Morrissey; mother-in-law, Pamela Kimbrell; cousin Terry Morrissey; and pets, Chloe, Blue and Figaro.

Surviving are his wife, Tiffany, nee Kimbrell, Zarzeck; daughter, Kelsey Renae Zarzeck of Troy, Ill.; parents, Ronald and Pamela, nee May, Zarzeck of Troy, Ill.; father-in-law, Don Kimbrell of Troy, Ill.; brothers, Joshua (Angela) Zarzeck of Tuscola, Ill. and Ronald (Brittany) Zarzeck of Fort Campbell, Ky.; sister, Brittani Zarzeck of Germantown, Md.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul Donald Kimbrell, Curtis Kimbrell, Jason Kimbrell, Todd Kimbrell, Dawn Flick, Brandy Lawless and Candice Porter; grandparents, Melba May of Swansea, Ill., Delbert "Ben" May Sr., of Collinsville, Ill., and Marcia K. Zarzeck of Cahokia, Ill.; nephews, Austin and Brennan Zarzeck; aunts and uncles, Delbert May Jr., Marty May, Roger (Barb) Zarzeck, Rhonda (Larry) Brand, Becky (Joe) Robinson, Kathy Morrissey, Sandy Luksza, Greg (Dollie) Luksza, Melissa (Charlie) Matthews, Jackie (Bob) Willey and Angela Sova Jones; aunt and godmother, Lara, nee May (Brad) Thompson; cousins, Michelle Zarzeck, Evan Zarzeck, Jessica Stephens, Jacob Stephens, Travis Oldham, Tyler Oldham, Danielle Oldham, Jacob May, Danyelle Pate, Madison Pate, Martin May, Jeff Zarzeck, Leslie Hanion, Angela Savard, Robin Meyer, Shaun Morrissey, Kipper Robinson, Joel Robinson, Jennifer Robinson, Shane Matthews, Brice Matthews, Doug Luksza Jr., Christine Nadler, Angela Potts, Louis Luksza, Greg Luksza Jr., and Marsha Murphy; and his babies, Murphy, Barbie and Coco.

Memorials may be made to the Kelsey Renae Scholarship Fund.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, at Laughlin-Richeson Funeral Home in Troy, Ill.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thurs-day, Oct. 27, 2011, at the funeral home with the Rev, Howard Bradshaw officiating.

LAUGHLIN-RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, Illinois