Russell Zimmermann

RUSSELL ZIMMERMANN was born April 13, 1930 to Elmer & Lucille (Wrenger) Zimmermann in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on August 11, 2011. He graduated from Kirkwood High School where he lettered in football and won the Missouri state wrestling championship 2 years in a row. He attended the University of Iowa on a football scholarship. Russell served in the Navy during the Korean War and was then stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. In 1952 he married Delores Muetze and they became parents of a son, David and a daughter, Christy. Delores was deceased in 1982. Following his Navy service, Russell returned to college and then worked for GMAC and moved to Centralia, Illinois. His next career opportunity was working for the Ed Sullivan Cable TV company and getting it established in Centralia. In 1970 he joined in a partnership with 4 others, building, owning and managing the Regal 8 motel chain and long term health care facilities in the Midwest. Russ was a 32nd degree Mason and while in Centralia was President of the Shrine Club. Russell and Mary Holt were married in 1983. The companies were sold in 1987 and a new adventure began. Together they turned 80 acres near Bloomington, Illinois into a small horse farm, built a home and Russ had a lot of tools and several tractors and always a new “project”. In 1989 they traveled on their boat down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and on to South Padre Island via the Intercoastal Waterway. In 1993, the farm was sold and winters were spent in Texas and summers in the house they built in the mountains in Northern New Mexico. In 2007, they moved to Montgomery, Texas. Russ loved his family and being a part of his grandchildren’s lives. His belief and love of God only grew stronger as he faced the challenges of cancer. He continued until his death to always have a “project” going and a smile on his face. He will always be remembered for his kindness to both other humans and animals. He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, David (Stephanie); daughter, Christy (Tim), stepson Kyle Holt (Cindy) and stepdaughter, Krista Holt; sister, Diane Diffey; beloved grandchildren; Ashley & Allie Zimmermann, Garrett, Zach & Evan Peters; nephew Chuck Diffey, niece, Linda Diffey and sister-in-law, Carolyn Lillie (Jim). In lieu of flowers, if your wish, please make donations to the Rociada Baptist Church, P. O. Box 747, Rociada, New Mexico 87742 of which he and Mary are charter members; North Shore Church, 410 Camden Hills West, Montgomery, Texas 77356 or to a charity of your choice. A Celebration of his Life will be held at North Shore Church in Bentwater on Saturday, August 20th at 2:00 PM and another on Sunday, August 28th at 2:00 PM at the Rociada Baptist Church in New Mexico. You are invited to leave memorial condolences to the family on our website at www.shmfh.com

Russell Zimmermann

April 13, 1930 - August 20, 2011