Jack Zimmerman

1940 - 2025

Jack Zimmerman, 84, a longtime Sheffield resident and businessman, died on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Sheffield Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Sheffield, with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton.

Jack was born on December 12, 1940, in Hampton, Iowa, to George and Georgia Zimmerman. He grew up in Sheffield and graduated from Sheffield-Chapin High School in 1959. At just 16, Jack began working at The Sheffield Press-a job that would become a lifelong vocation.

From 1963 to 1969, Jack served his country in the U.S. Army and the Iowa National Guard. On November 19, 1966, he married Lidia Honczarenko. The couple initially made their home in Mason City, and in 1973, they purchased The Sheffield Press. They moved to Sheffield in 1976 and, in 1977, welcomed their only child, Angela Jo. Lidia joined Jack at the newspaper in 1985, and the two worked side by side until selling the business in 2008. Jack continued working there until his retirement in September 2022, marking an extraordinary 66-year career.

Jack was deeply involved in his community. He was a proud member of the Lions Club, Community Club, American Legion, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), where he formed deep, lasting bonds and helped many others in their recovery journeys. This past July, Jack celebrated 43 years of sobriety-an achievement that brought him immense pride and purpose.

His many hobbies included bowling, restoring classic cars, and playing bingo with his friend Shirley. He was a dedicated supporter of his daughter's activities and rarely missed a game or performance over the years. In more recent times, Jack found one of his greatest joys in being "Papa" to his granddaughter, Lidia. He cherished every visit and never missed a chance to be part of her life.

Jack is survived by his daughter, Angela (Nicholas) Jones of Altoona; his beloved granddaughter, Lidia; his sister, Georgann (Fred) Turner of Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lidia; his parents, George and Georgia Zimmerman; his brother, Gordon Zimmerman and wife Laverl; and his niece, Gloria (Zimmerman) Sapp.