Zimmer, Eugene "Zip" Cyril 1926 - 2010

ZIMMER, SCHMITZ, HAMMOND

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/15/2010 at 21:32:05

Gene “Zip” Zimmer, 84, of Le Mars passed away Saturday evening, November 6, 2010 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 11, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars with Father Kevin Richter officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 will be at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars with a 7:00 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Dick Zimmer, Jim Frohne, Bryan Zimmer, Paul Deardorff, Alex Paul, and Zach Zimmer.

Eugene Cyril Zimmer was born August 3, 1926 in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Rosa (Schmitz) Zimmer. Gene was known to many friends as “Zip”. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in Le Mars with the Class of 1945. He enlisted with the United States Army on June 19, 1945 where he was deployed to Okinawa, Japan until his Honorable Discharge on November 27, 1946. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on June 3, 1951 with a degree in business. He worked for Nemmers Brothers Construction and later for Klinger Construction in Sioux City. While working a construction job, Gene met his future wife, Sharon Hammond. Gene and Sharon were united in marriage on April 8, 1961 in Columbus Junction, Iowa. Gene’s construction career brought he and Sharon to live in Ogden, UT, New Ulm, MN, Ames, IA, Fort Dodge, IA, and Vermillion, SD during their early years of marriage before retuning to Le Mars in 1969. Gene and Sharon were blessed with four children: Marian, Terry, Becky, and Gene.

Gene retired from Klinger Construction after 33 years of service in September of 1988. He was a 50 plus year member of the Carpenters Union Local 941 of Sioux City and the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 of Le Mars. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and playing cards. Gene was a loyal friend, good neighbor, and wonderful husband and father. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Sharon of Le Mars; four children: Marian and her husband Mike Paul of Le Mars and their family Kristina and Alex, Terry Zimmer of Omaha, NE and his family Kyle, Kim, Sara and Zach, Becky and her husband Tye Greaves of Sioux City and their family Olivia and Owen, and Gene Zimmer and Paul Deardorff of Le Mars; 2 sisters-in-law, Anita Zimmer of Littleton, CO and Lorna Hammond of Wapello, IA; 2 brothers-in-law, Richard Hammond and Jack Gustison of Wapello, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rosa (Schmitz) Zimmer; 7 brothers, Joe, Bill, Lou, Ralph, Vince, Bobby and Dick; 3 sisters, Mary Zimmer, Rose Van Hoff, and Elizabeth Zimmer in infancy.