Eric M. "Zippo" "Zip" Zimmerman

1956 - 2017

Eric M. "Zip" "Zippo" Zimmerman, 61, of Kittanning passed away Monday, July 17, 2017, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot.

He was born May 22, 1956, in Kittanning, the son of Emmett and Wanda (Visnesky) Zimmerman.

Eric was a lifelong resident of the Kittanning area and graduated in 1976 from Kittanning High School. During his school years, he was widely known for being athletic in football, baseball, and especially hockey. His hockey legacy began with the Armstrong Arrows where he was the only goaltender in their first three years of existence who led the Arrows to an undefeated season in their first year. Zip played hockey from 1968 to 1976 and when he was in 9th grade he played on the All-Star Varsity Team. His former coach stated that Zip had the perfect temperament for a goaltender that was confident and consistent in every game. For two years he played hockey for Indiana University sporting a 1.59 GAA. Many hockey fans knew the saying "Only God saves more than Zimmerman." He continued playing the game he loved by joining an Amateur Hockey League and was a goalie coach. His greatest hockey accomplishment was in 1995 when he was inducted to the Armstrong Hockey Hall of Fame. For 41 years, Eric worked as a laborer and foreman for Swank Construction. He was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church and of the Local Union #1058 of Pittsburgh for 37 years. He enjoyed visiting amusement parks, hunting, riding quads, watching hockey and football games, but his greatest joy came from spending time with his family and friends and watching his son play football. Eric will be remembered as being a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and was a hardworking man who cared for his family.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 28 years, Denise L. (Meyer) Zimmerman; a son, Eric M. Zimmerman, Jr. of Kittanning; three daughters, Tonya J. (Zimmerman) Kilgore and husband, Cody, of Kittanning, Kylea R. (Zimmerman) Toney and husband, Ryan, of Fort Drum, N.Y., and Eryka A. Zimmerman of Fort Drum, N.Y.; two grandchildren, Bella Zimmerman and Waylon Kilgore, and one on the way in January 2018; a sister, Diann Flick and husband, Samuel, of Sunnyside; and three brothers, Harry Zimmerman and wife, Leslie, Kurt Zimmerman and wife, Allison, and Carl Zimmerman, all of Kittanning.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 515 N. McKean St., Kittanning. Additional visitation will be held on Friday, July 21, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the funeral home until the time of funeral services at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Carl Johnson officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Rayburn Township. Contributions may be given in his memory to the family and mailed to the funeral home. Arrangements are being handled by Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

To send a condolence to Eric's family or view a tribute honoring his life, visit www.bauerfuneral.com.