Zach Buckley

It is with a heavy and loving heart that we share that dear son, Ian Zachary Buckley, 33, passed from this physical world on December 3, 2025. He was born on the greatest day of his parents’ lives, April 13, 1992. He is dearly and forever loved by his mother, Annette Elana Duncanson Buckley Cohn and his father Jerry Mark Buckley. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandfather, Jerry Mahaffy Buckley; brother, Aiden Buckley; uncles and aunts Michael and Lauri Buckley, Richard Buckley, Joseph and Kathy Schmitt, and Eric Schlackman; step-father Marcdavid Cohn; step-siblings, Shosh and Harry Cohn; cousins, Sam Schmitt, Mic Schmitt and Jessie Buckley; and numerous extended family, close family friends, his dear friends and all who love him.

Zach has joined and is welcomed by his grandmothers, Jean Buckley and Priscilla Sherritt Kramer who love him with all of their hearts; grandfathers Donald Duncanson and Richard Kramer; uncle Bruce Duncanson and aunt Laura Duncanson.

Zach has always been a rare, gentle soul who loves and feels deeply. He is a highly intuitive and intelligent individual who often recognized truths beyond his years. He is able to see the good in all, while seeking to avoid strife and negativity.

A talented musician, Zach loves his music and could always be found with a guitar in his hands. He has a deep appreciation for, and his playing is influenced by the original blues and rock artists including Robert Johnson, Jimmy Hendricks, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Funkadelic, Slick Skillet Serenaders, Black Keys, Primus and Uncle Mike Buckley.

He takes great pride in his work and enjoyed working and socializing with his managers and colleagues at The Atlas Tavern. He was a talented pizza spinner at Dewey’s Pizza in Worthington and helped to establish a Dewey’s in Kansas City. He enjoyed his relationships with his coworkers and being close to music during his time working at Magnolia Thunderpussy record store and Music Go Round used instruments store.

He attended Indianola Informal Elementary, Dominion Middle School, Ridgeview Middle School and The Graham Experiential High School where he took extended experiential trips. He and his best friend Miles traveled to and performed in Chicago, and he also got to experience sharing his music on the streets of New Orleans where he learned the fine art of busking.

He loves his mother, father, grandparents, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends with deep affection, and we will all keep him in our hearts forever more.

We will have a celebration of life for our beloved child in the spring. We will share details for this as we are able. We will also be sharing information on a charity we will be setting up in his name to honor his memory.

Please continue to share thoughts, prayers poems, songs, photos and memories of Zach either directly with us, on this memorial page or bring to his celebration of life.

Play on Zach!