Jerome Zimmerman

Jerome V. Zimmerman "Jerry", was born April 11, 1936, on a farm North of Westphalia, IA. He was the 11th of 14 children born to Frank and Celia Zimmerman. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church, and went to St. Boniface Catholic School, graduation with the class of 1954. 

Jerry worked on the family farm for 2 years, then enlisted into the United States Army for 3 years (1956-1959) and received an Honorable discharge. While in the service and on leave, he attended a dance back in Panama, IA where he met his future wife, Alice Mary Blum. They were married in November 1960 and later had 4 children: Kent, Kimberly, Kevin and Kerry.

Following Jerry's military service, he worked for Western Electric in Omaha, NE and graduated from the Tool & Die program. He moved the family to Minden, IA in 1962 and started a Feed Mill business, later adding feed and farm supplies, grain bins & buildings and renaming the business Zimmerman Farm Supply in 1963. The family grew up helping in various aspects of the business. In 1989, Jerry & son, Kevin formed a partnership Zimmerman Sales & Service and moved the business to Neola.

Jerry servied 10 years on Minden City Council, Minden Fire Department, Minden Commercial Club, and President of the Minden Community Club. He was an avid basketball player in his younger years, then slow-pitch softball was where he got his nickname "Stretch". In 2023, Jerry received the West Pottawattamie Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Ag Award in recognition to his many years of service to agriculture in SW iowa. He was an avid Nebraska football, Creighton basketball & the Kansas City Royals fan! He loved attending his kid's and grandkid's sporting & musical events over the years. Jerry & Alice attended St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Neola.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Celia Zimmerman; in-laws, Chris & Nora Blum; siblings: Vince Zimmerman; Father Eugene Zimmerman, Irene Zimmerman, Frances Zimmerman, Marie Carlson, Leander Zimmerman, Therese Gubbels, Thelma Rauterkus, Donald Zimmerman, and Joe Zimmerman; and daughter-in-law, Paulette Zimmerman.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Alice of 65 years and their children Kent & Karen Zimmerman of Council Bluffs, Kimberly & Paul Sullivan of Brunswick, GA, Kevin & Amy Zimmerman of Minden, and Kerry & Traci Zimmerman of Council Bluffs; siblings: brother, Mike Zimmerman, and sisters, Margaret Konz and Celie Cairney; sisters-in-law, Judy Clark; Joyce Zimmerman & Sister Joyce Blum; brother-in-law, John; grandchildren, Emily Zimmerman, Kelsey Wallman, Jordan Zimmerman, Kyle Zimmerman, Blake Sullivan, Hannah Johnson, Shelby Sullivan, Wes Zimmerman & Morgan Cammack; 14 great-grandchildren and many other family members and lifelong friends. 

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Friday, January 2, 2026.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Neola on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Memorials will be directed by the family.