James "Jim" Elwood Zimmerman
ZIMMERMAN, CONNORS, STEFFEN, BOE, GULLICKSON, HOEKMAN
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 3/24/2023 at 09:01:52
James "Jim" Elwood Zimmerman, 77 of Coralville, IA passed away on February 22nd, 2023, while vacationing in St. George Island, Florida.
To honor Jim, there will be a Visitation and a Celebration of Life. Visitation will be at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City, IA on March 31st from 4-7 PM with Military Honors at 6:30 PM. Jim’s celebration of life will be held at the Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, IA on April 1st at 11:00 AM. Inurnment will be later in Vermillion, SD. Memorials may be directed to the VA Iowa City Healthcare c/o Volunteer Services or the Coralville Public Library.
Jim was born on April 4th, 1945, in Le Mars, Iowa to Annaleen and Richard Zimmerman. He spent his youth in San Diego, CA before returning to the Midwest. Jim attended Vermillion High School in South Dakota for his senior year where he lettered in three sports and met his future wife, Mary Ann Connors. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in Math Education and earned his master’s degree in Higher Education from The University of Michigan. During college, Jim was in ROTC, later attending Army Ranger School and was awarded the prestigious Ranger Tab. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Connors. Shortly after, he served in Vietnam as a Platoon Leader, was highly decorated, and reached the rank of Major. In 2014, Jim was honored when added to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Veterans Trail.
Jim’s favorite life chapter began with the birth of his two children, James and Gretchen. He actively embraced fatherhood, becoming a soccer coach and dance dad while making every day fun. Jim was the Associate Director of Financial Aid at The University of Michigan until joining American College Testing (ACT) as the Director of Development for the Student Aid Reporting and Analysis System in Iowa City, IA. After leaving ACT, he became a higher education consultant.
When not working, Jim enjoyed vacationing, especially if it involved fishing, horseback riding, and spending time with his grandchildren. Other interests included golf, playing pool, reading, painting, and woodworking. He lived life to the fullest and faced every challenge with a positive attitude. Some of Jim’s most meaningful friendships were formed through his Gourmet Group, Cardiac Rehab, and VA volunteering.
Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Ann, his son James A. Zimmerman (Andrea), his daughter Gretchen Steffen (Doug), and five grandchildren including: Haley Steffen, Emma Steffen (fiancé Zack Kijowski), Carson Steffen, Maxwell Zimmerman and Kaylynn Steffen. Jim is also survived by his brothers Dick Zimmerman (Joni) and Dennis Zimmerman (Mary Kay); along with in-laws Margie Connors-Boe (Gary), Bob Connors (Julie), Cathy Gullickson (Marc), and Carla Connors (Timothy Hoekman); as well as nieces, nephews and friends.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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