Philip H. Zimmerman

1936 - 2021

Philip H. Zimmerman

LEYDEN, MA — Philip H. Zimmerman, 85, of Leyden passed away on September 15, 2021 at home with his wife at his side after a short illness. He was born in Greenfield, MA on March 29, 1936 to Marion (Miner) & Casper Zimmerman. He moved to Leyden when he was a week old and remained a resident of Leyden the rest of his life. Phil attended Leyden Center School and graduated from Greenfield High School in 1953. He met the love of his life, the former Ann Paulin, at the square dances at the town hall in Leyden. They were married on January 7, 1956 at St. Anne's Church in Turners Falls, MA and had 65 loving years together.

Phil worked with his father on the dairy farm that his parents owned until the spring of 1969. He then worked as a carpenter and painter, going on to work at Northfield Sand & Gravel and A.R. Sandri as a truck driver. In 1972 he started his own livestock trucking business and was joined by his younger brother and his 2 sons and with them ran the business for 40 years. He retired in 2012. From 1997 until spring of this year, Phil and Ann wintered in Mulberry FL where they made many new friends.

Phil took up the game of golf and won 2 league championships. This was quite an accomplishment for a man who had never played golf until he was 61 years of age. During his time in FL he was a member of the Board of Directors for 3 years in the park they lived at, Lake Pointe Village. While in FL he loved sitting out on their carport and visiting with friends from the park. In his younger years he enjoyed snowmobiling and was a member of the Leyden Ridge Runners snowmobile club. He and Ann purchased a pickup and 5th Wheel Camper and for a good many years enjoyed traveling back and forth to FL and sightseeing along the way. Phil was a long time member of the Greenfield Moose Club and Greenfield Elks Club.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; his children: Terry (Jim) Rae and Bruce (Andrea) Zimmerman: his grandchildren: Sarah (Steve) Fisher, Jim (Ashli) Rae Jr., Billy Zimmerman Jr. and his partner Taryn Crisafulli: two great-granddaughters;:Ivy and Sawyer Rae who both had a very special place in his heart; his brother, Paul (Sally) Zimmerman and many nieces and nephews. Phil was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Elaine Kimball and his son, Bill Zimmerman Sr.

Phil's family would like to thank his caregivers Michele Peila, Bonnie Rae, and Bev Foley, the girls from Guardian Angels, the staff at Charlene Manor and the nurses of Hospice of Franklin County for their excellent care given to him during his illness.

Funeral services for Phil will be on Saturday (9/25/2021) at 11:00 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 14 High Street, Greenfield, with Rev. David Neil officiating. There will be an hour of visitation preceding the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at South Cemetery in Leyden. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made in Phil's name to Guardian Angels Concierge Services, LLC, 156 Colrain Stage Road, Colrain, MA 01340.