Donald Louis Zaunbrecher

1942 - 2024

Donald Louis Zaunbrecher passed away peacefully on July 26, 2024 at 81 years old. Born the youngest of 10 children to Joseph and Annie Dischler Zaunbrecher on September 7, 1942, he spent his childhood in Mowata with his family. A farmer is who he was. He began at age 11 helping his brother harvest the family's rice crop. By 19, he was a full time farmer while serving in the Army Reserves. After one year of managing a farm in North Louisiana, he moved to Grosse Tete, and later New Roads, where he began his long and successful career. During this time, he raised his daughters, Kelson and Mary Catherine, with his former wife Jo Ann. He loved big gatherings with family and friends and bar-b-quing for everyone. During his career, he was a leader that served to better the industry, especially in the field of soybeans. His devotion was obvious by his involvement in many organizations. He was a member of the American Soybean Association National Board of Directors, The National Crown Growers Association, the Great Baton Rouge Port Commission, United Soybean Board (USB), Louisiana Agriculture Commodities Commission, the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board, US Grains Council, American Soybean and Corn Development Foundation, Chairman of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Soybean Advisory Committee and Marketing Association. He also served on boards for the First National Bank of Port Allen and the Supple Corporation. He was distinguished in his field and presented with many awards during his career including the Louisiana Farm Bureau Soybean Division Award for outstanding contributions to the industry and Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the year. Donald is survived by his daughter, Kelson Annie Zaunbrecher Swancy; son-in-law, Burt Oglivie; step-son, Donald Glynn; grandchildren, James Oglivie and Aiden, Nathan and Emily Swancy; step-granddaughter, Julianna Lafitte; siblings, Hilary Zaunbrecher (Suzanne) and Joyce Melancon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Donald is preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Catherine Zaunbrecher Oglivie; his parents, Annie and Joseph Zaunbrecher; mother-in-law, Catherine Busse; and siblings, Leo Zaunbrecher (Stella), Edna Broussard (Bruce), Ferdinand Zaunbrecher (Janet), Dot Zaunbrecher, Howard Melancon, Harold Zaunbrecher (Pauline), Gerald Zaunbrecher (Shirley), and Gina Tate (Gordon). Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lakeland on Friday, August 2, 2024. Visitation will be in the Church Hall from 11:00 a.m. until 12:50 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 pm, with Officiants Fr. Todd Llyod and Fr. Miles Walsh. Burial of ashes in the church cemetery will follow. Honorary pallbearers will be John Kleinpeter, Troy Kleinpeter and Kyle McCann. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to metavivor breast cancer research (metavivor.org) or the charity of your choice.