Robert Maclyn Zimmerman

Robert Maclyn Zimmerman

After a long battle with cancer, Robert Maclyn Zimmerman passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 5, 2010.

Robert was born in Wright County, Iowa, on his family's farm on March 25, 1932, the second son of John Conrad Zimmerman and Marie Elizabeth Hefti Zimmerman, and grew up on the farm. His only sibling, his older brother Earl, predeceased him. He was also preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Kary, of Denver, Colorado, in 1998.

Bob received his Bachelors degree from the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, where he played football and wrestled, then married and began to raise his family. He taught high school math and coached several sports, specializing in wrestling at Hanover, Illinois, East Moline, Illinois. That was followed by a long stint at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, as a math teacher and head wrestling coach and coach of several other sports including golf and baseball. He earned his Masters degree and continued his studies at the University of Colorado during several summers, and one summer at the University of California at Berkeley, and had the honor of being a Fulbright Exchange teacher in London for one academic year. Bob built his retirement house himself outside Spring Green, Wisconsin, on 60 acres of hills and farmland. He and his beloved wife, Suzanne, spent several years in Wisconsin, and also bought a house in Charlottesville, Virginia, to care for Suzanne's aging parents, Donald and Jeanette Heyne. Suzanne passed away September 24, 2009.

Bob leaves his beloved children, Kim Skogsberg and her husband, Donald, of Carol Stream, Illinois, and John Zimmerman and his wife, Mariann, of Crystal Lake, Illinois; and four beautiful granddaughters, Kristin Skogsberg, Kelsey Skogsberg, Jennifer Zimmerman and Janine Zimmerman. He leaves his stepchildren, David Hill and his wife, Janet, of Denver, Colorado, and Sarah Clark and her husband, Daniel, of LaGrange Park, Illinois; and four step-grandchildren, Elizabeth Clark, Robert Clark, Brendan Hill and Katherine Hill. Bob leaves his nephews, Randy Zimmerman and his wife, Cheri, of Humboldt, Iowa, and Rick Zimmerman of Renwick, Iowa.

Bob enjoyed building, adding on, fixing and maintaining his homes, as well as being an avid golfer. He was a member of Greene Hills Golf Club in Stanardsville, Virginia, and prior was a member of Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, along with Suzanne.

Bob's family wishes to express their deepest admiration and thanks to Dr. Gordon Morris and Dr. Timothy Short for their loving care for many years. In his last few days, Hospice of the Piedmont and Home Instead provided much needed support and counsel to him and his family.

Memorial services will be private.

If you wish to make a memorial contribution, please direct it to Martha Jefferson Cancer Care Center, c/o The Development Office, 459 Locust Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22902 or Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Way, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.