Donald G. Zimmerman, 75
Donald G. Zimmerman, 75, of Somers, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, surrounded by his three children at Brendan House, after a short battle with cancer.
He was born on July 12, 1939, in Saskatchewan to Henry and Ethel “Peggy” Zimmerman. As a young boy he grew up on the family farm and enjoyed playing hockey.
He moved to California as a young adult where he worked at Standard Oil. He would often tell stories of the movie stars he met there.
He was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, and was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, where he served our country as a radio operator.
On April 6, 1963, he married Dawn Gloria Wood. The couple lived in Anchorage until his discharge from the Army, and then returned to Southern California where he owned and operated a pool maintenance business with his brother, Wayne.
Upon selling the pool business, they moved to Cortez, Colorado, where they worked their pig farm. They eventually sold the pig farm and moved to Jerome, Idaho, to be closer to his mother, sister and brother. There, they farmed sugar beets, peas and potatoes. Afterwards, they moved to Hunt, Idaho, and worked in the potato fields.
From there they moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where they bought the Viking delicatessen. Don missed his ranch and farming roots, so they eventually sold the deli and took a job running Timber Ridge guest ranch in Harrison, Idaho. Don was a natural with entertaining the guests and enjoyed his work there very much. Dawn did all the cooking. They were a great team.
When the guest ranch sold, they moved to Montana and took a job managing Lost Trail Ranch, a very large, commercial cow/calf operation, in Pleasant Valley.
From there the couple retired and moved to Kila where they kept a few horses and enjoyed gardening, boating, fishing and camping with friends. They eventually purchased a small ranch in Ronan where they raised a few cattle, horses and hay and had a large garden. Dawn passed away in 2006. Don sold the ranch in 2013 and moved to Somers to be closer to his son's family.
Don was an avid outdoorsman. He loved camping, four-wheeling, hunting, fishing and was happiest in the saddle, horseback riding. A fanatical hockey fan, he rarely missed a Toronto Maple Leafs game. He had a great sense of humor and could always make people laugh with his singing and quick wit. He was the life of any party and made friends everywhere he went.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn Zimmerman; his mother, Ethel “Peggy” Zimmerman; and his father, Henry Zimmerman.
Survivors include his brother, Wayne Zimmerman; sister, Lorraine, and Jeff Marble; daughter, Jodi, and Mark Ellis; son, Chad, and Libby Zimmerman; daughter, Cara, and Bryan Seekell; grandchildren, Anthony and Lindsey Ellis, Kelsey, Connor and Sidney Zimmerman, and Rachel, Donna and Ashleigh Seekell; great-grandson, Colter Zimmerman; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family.
Private family burial was held at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson on March 13.
Please join us for a celebration of life at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, to be held upstairs at Brannigan’s Pub, 101 East Center Street No. 1 in Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Braveheart Chaplain Ministry, 650 Fifth Ave. West North, Kalispell, MT 59901; or to Kalispell Regional Healthcare, Brendan House or Cancer Services, 350 Conway Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Memories and condolences may be sent to www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.