Charles "Charlie" R. Zanker

Charles "Charlie" Raymond Zanker, age 70, of Hamburg, IA passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Charlie was born on December 1, 1955 at the old Hamburg Hospital in Hamburg, IA - the son of Paul Vernon and Carolyn Sue (Cowles) Zanker.  He attended school in Hamburg and graduated from the Hamburg High School in 1974.  He attended Iowa State University at Ames, IA where he walked-on to the Cyclone Basketball program. 

He was united in marriage to Jaylene A. Nelson on September 2, 2006 in Bellevue, NE.

Charlie was a life-long farmer - an occupation that he dearly loved.  He was very active in the Hamburg Community and was a member of Hamburg Hometown Pride, Corn Growers Association, the Farm Bureau, and worked with Responsible River Management to help control flooding in the Hamburg area.  He also served as a board member of the Grape Community Hospital and was a member of the Grape Community Hospital Foundation.

Charlie was a talented and gifted builder of custom full-size Hot Rod cars/trucks/trikes, and his totally scratch-built VW-powered "Trike" was featured in a prominent automotive/cycle show in Omaha, NE several years ago.  His talents as a fabricator and welder were well-known among his friends and associates.

He is survived by his wife: Jaylene Zanker of Hamburg IA; his son: Matthew Zanker (Victoria) of Columbus, IN; two grandsons: Lee Charles Zanker and Warren James Zanker; brothers: John Zanker of Carmel, IN and James Zanker (Kyle) of Fort Wayne, IN; nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and other extended family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul “Slim” Zanker in August of 2010 and his mother, Carolyn Zanker, who died only five weeks prior on January 11, 2026.

A joint Celebration-of-Life Service with his mother, Carolyn, will be held Saturday, June 6th, 2026, 11:00am at Mt. Olive Cemetery near Hamburg, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Grape Community Hospital, Hamburg Food Bank or Hamburg Hometown Pride.

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