It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Andrew Zacharias. Andrew left us on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by his family after a sudden cardiac arrest. Our hearts go out to all who knew and loved him during this difficult time.

To honor his memory, a funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Winter-Green Event Center, located at 100 Spruce Drive, Crooks, SD 57020. Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home - Westside Chapel, at 6200 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106. Andrew will be buried at Hartford Cemetery in Hartford, South Dakota. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time of loss.

The funeral service for Andrew will be livestreamed. To participate in the service via livestream, please click on the following link: https://youtube.com/live/cAX4iGckwAE

Andrew David Zacharias entered the world as the last of eight children on December 14th, 1986, to the proud parents, Jerry and Karen (Runge) Zacharias. His childhood was filled with playing tag in the neighborhood, building snow forts with his siblings, or riding his bike to Kuehn pool on hot summer days.

As the baby of the family, Andrew was undoubtedly spoiled rotten! While the rest of the kids had hand-me-down clothes, Andrew always sported the newest name brands. He even got a new BMX bike while the rest of the kids settled for what Jer bought at the most recent police auction. It is also well known that Andrew never had to eat what the family was having, as his mom would prepare him whatever he wanted that evening!

Andrew attended school in the Sioux Falls school district, but wasn't very enthusiastic about education, to say the least. He knew his passion was construction. From the moment he could make his first sounds, he started mimicking the noise a loader makes as it loads a dump truck, and the sound a semitruck makes as it fires up in the morning.

After leaving school early, he joined his brothers as an owner of Zacharias Construction, Inc. Although he enjoyed the daily grind and being on the jobsite, his favorite days were when he got to drive the ZCI truck in the Hartford Christmas parade or haul the West Central Trojan football team in the Homecoming Parade.

Recently, he started a new venture, JAG Crushing, to honor the memory of his brother, Gary, who was a Crushing Foreman at Myrl and Roy's Paving and held many production records for over a decade. This completed his lifelong dream because, after all, Andrew was just a big kid who wanted to play in the dirt all day!

Even though he loved his work, his biggest passion was being an uncle. With 16 nieces, nephews, and two great nephews, you could often find Andrew teaching one of the kids how to drive a skid steer loader or giving rides in a side-by-side through the pit. He was infamous for avoiding other adults and sitting with the kids at the kids' table at any family gathering!

Andrew was an amazing son, brother, and uncle, but also everyone's best friend. Anyone who met him immediately loved him. People wanted to be around him because he brought incredible joy and outstanding laughter. He would do anything for his friends, neighbors, or even strangers. He was charismatic, charming, and the life of the party!

Although Andrew never married or had children, the position he took most seriously was Dog Dad to Maverick, aka Mav Dog. They could often be found on the couch watching movies or sharing a cheeseburger and an ice cream sandwich. When Andrew would come home from work, Mav would jump up and put his arms on Andrew's shoulders as if they were hugging after a long time being apart.

There are a few people who could light up the world like Andrew. His kindness had no limits, his laughter was contagious, and his smile was genuine. The world will be darker without him.

Thankful to have shared his life are his mother, Karen Zacharias; his siblings, Jeff and Brenda Zacharias, Justin and Katie Zacharias, Jarad and Amy Zacharias, Sara Zacharias, and Derek and Katlyn Zacharias.

Andrew was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Zacharias, and his two brothers, Gary and Jason Zacharias.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you consider making a donation to Hungry Hearts of Sioux Falls. This organization provides support for school lunches, backpack giveaways, youth outdoor programs, winter clothing drives, and much more. By contributing, you are helping to invest in the dignity, potential, and hope of every child. Please click the following link to donate in honor of Andrew Zacharias: https://venmo.com/u/hungryheartsSF