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About
Zachary Ford Obituary
Zach was born to Jenni and Jim Ford on February 25th, 1999 in Urbana, Illinois. He grew up in Savoy, Illinois; Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Gilbert, Arizona; and Mattawan, Michigan. He loved being around his sister and three brothers. Zach graduated from Mattawan High School in 2017 and attended Purdue University in 2019. Zach loved sports and wrestled, played football and rugby, and participated in track and field. He was proud to join the Purdue Rugby Team and loved his opportunities to coach wrestling.
Zach married his high school sweetheart, Ally Gilbert on August 14th, 2020. After Ally completed her undergraduate degree, the couple moved to Denver. They enjoyed rock climbing, camping, and watching sports together. Zach deeply loved his dog Opal.
Zach was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a bone cancer in October 2020. Despite many hard cancer treatments, he continued to do the things he loved and marked many items off his bucket list, including watching sports, traveling, catching Pokemon, and spending time with loved ones.
Zach is survived by his wife, Ally Gilbert; parents Jim and Jenni Ford; siblings Kati (Russell) Pham, Jacob (Giselle) Ford, Tyson Ford, Parker Ford; his parents-in-law Eric Shay and Kim Gilbert-Shay; his brother- and sister-in-law Max and Ruby Gilbert; and many other loving family members and friends and predeceased by his grandfather Myron Christensen and uncles Jonathan Lindsey and Alex Ford.
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1112 North Drake Road, Kalamazoo Michigan 49006) on Saturday, September 3rd, at 11 am. A visitation will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Zach's family would love to hear your memories and stories about Zach.
Address for flower delivery: 7049 South 3rd St, Mattawan, MI 49071
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Karl and Michelle Ritchie
September 2, 2022
Zach had a contagious smile and was full of energy. I am confident that he is approaching his next adventure with the same enthusiasm, and that he will greet his friends and family again with that same big smile. He was in our group when the church youth did a handcart trek in 2014.
Chad Allred
September 1, 2022
Zach was not only a member of my ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; he was also a student in one of my undergraduate marketing classes at Purdue University. I had some personal discussions with him in that setting where he talked about his life. He was then, and is now, a ramarkable individual.
Marisa Stevenson
August 31, 2022
So sorry for your loss. He was amazing and so very strong.
Jay Cammack
August 31, 2022
Zach was a great young man, who was adventurous and tender hearted. I went with a YM high adventure trip one year, where the Young Men from our Stake went to Kentucky to the Monmouth Caves and Canoeing. I was the canoeing buddy with Jim Ford (Zach's Dad). Zach was the adventurous one in the canoe. He was canoeing buddies with another young man that was a bit mentally challenged, and Zach showed great love for this young man. Zach would do most of the paddling and was all over the river at times --- but mostly lagging toward the rear of the parade of canoes. He'd get ahead and then sit and relax in the back of canoe, and we'd have to get after him at times as he was lagging and slowing the group up. He'd just smile ---.
Our love to the Ford family and to the challenges they have faced these past few years with Zach's struggles to get cured from this horrible disease. He was valiant and courageous in his efforts and prayers to the family survived that they may have peace in knowing of God's eternal plan of Salvation and they will see Zach again with his infectious smile.
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KIRT BROWN
August 30, 2022
Wonderful Young Man, Wonderful Family, Wonderful Memories! Our sadness is tempered only by the fond interactions with Zach over many years through sports
and school. Comfort and Peace
Kirt Brown
Erika Deaton-Mohney
August 30, 2022
So sorry to hear about the loss of Zach. I have fond memories watching him wrestle and play Rugby with Peter. He always had such a great smile to share.
Tiki
August 30, 2022
Never had the pleasure of playing alongside Zach, but did have the honor of coaching him. He was always asking questions, willing to improve, curious and had love for the game of rugby. He wouldn´t miss a practice, and despite not being able to play because of injury (at the time he had not been diagnosed) he would ALWAYS show up to practice. An exemplary young man and a brother gone too soon. Purdue rugby was and will forever be lucky to have you.
LiAnne Hammond
August 30, 2022
LiAnne Hammond
August 30, 2022
LiAnne Hammond
August 30, 2022
LiAnne Hammond
August 30, 2022
Zach was a great friend. I´ll never forget our crazy adventures and experiences, stuffing ourselves with French toast till we were sick, our constantly-losing ultimate frisbee team, and just hanging out. He will be missed and he will always be loved.
Peter Deaton
August 30, 2022
I met the Ford Brothers in middle school. Wrestling was my life so when they joined the team they became a part of my family. We grew up together sharing not only our love for wrestling but for rugby as well. Being in such high stress sports sometimes the people you meet are fueled by their ego or too competitive to really make a friendship with. That wasn't Zach. He just loved to be there. He was genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met. After we couldn't compete in our sports anymore we both went from doing the wrestling to coaching it. I wish I could have bonded with him more over our passions more, but I am grateful for the time that we did have together. Thank you Zach for always being so kind. You will be missed.
Casey Doten
August 30, 2022
I was Zach's rugby coach at Purdue and I always admired his incredible persistence. Before his diagnosis, he was having back pain but still wanted to participate in everything he could. Even after, he would come out to practices to be able to throw the ball around with his teammates. Once it became clear that he couldn't continue to do that, he wanted to stay involved however he could and helped out as a coach when he was well enough.
Even as a new player with the team and continuing into his time coaching with Purdue Rugby, Zach always worked to help those around him. He was quick to greet new players, to help someone learn skills they struggled with, and to help make the team a welcoming environment.
Zach was a wonderful, kind young man and it was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to coach him and get to know him. He was an absolutely remarkable young man. The rugby team will forever be proud to have had Zach as one of us.
My deepest condolences to the entire family.
James Peterson
August 30, 2022
I remember when Mattawan wrestled Marshall. Zach, Tyson and I all wrestled different people. Zach and Tyson were both varsity, I was JV. We all won our matches, and watched, cheering each other on even though we were on opposite teams. Zach was always a fun guy to be around. Never belittling you, but always building you up, and helping you to be a better version of yourself. I'll miss him.
Eric Shay
August 30, 2022
My wife and I have been honored to know and love Zach for the past several years.
Our hearts hurt tremendously.
Memories of our time together remind me of a line from an old movie.
Having known him, and having watched his (life) example "makes me want to be a better man".
I'm grateful that he's at peace now.
Best of luck, Zach, on your new journey.
Until we meet again.....
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