Obituary of Merle Walter Zimmerman

Merle Walter Zimmerman

Merle Walter Zimmerman, 89, of Greeley, CO, passed away peacefully on April 29^th, 2023 at Bright Assisted Living in Windsor, CO.

Merle was born on March 9^th, 1934 in Greeley, CO to Walter and Lillie (Barnes Thomas) Zimmerman. Merle attended Washington Elementary, Meeker Jr. High and Greeley High School. Some of his first jobs as a young boy was working at Andy Apple Gardens and delivering the Greeley Tribune on his bicycle after school. He married Charlene Hicks on November 17^th, 1956.

Shortly after, on December 10^th, 1956, he was drafted into the U.S Army. He attended basic training in El Paso, Texas and was stationed at the United States Mannheim Army Base in Heidelberg, Germany. He was there for 18 months where he was in the Triple A Brigade as a dispatcher at the motor pool.

When he returned home to Greeley, he was a truck driver for several years for Shupe & Yost Trucking. Merle then began working for Hicks Homes, building homes in Greeley. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s he was a General Contractor and owned/operated Zimmerman Construction. In the 1990’s, he began installing windows for Lifetime Building Products, American Exteriors and Precision Windows and Siding. He finally retired after working hard in 2007.

Merle loved the outdoors, and his favorite past time was fishing. He also enjoyed working in his yard, doing home improvements, and having coffee and lunch with his friends.

Merle is survived by his children, Rena (Robert) Christian of South Jordan, Utah, Gordon Alan Zimmerman of Centennial, CO, and Gary (Lennie Sisson) Zimmerman of Mead, CO; grandchildren, A.J and Kimberly Christian of Riverton, Utah, Brandon Christian of West Jordan, Utah, Kayla Christian VandenBoomen (Rick) of Sandy, Utah, John Groves of Mead, CO, and Chloe Sisson of Mead, CO; great-grandchildren, Rylee, Addyson, and Olivia Christian of Riverton, Utah.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Charlene; mother and father; brothers, George Thomas, Roy Thomas, Ralph Thomas, and Dowell Thomas; sisters, Izetta Schlotthauer, Evelyn Perterson, Alma Campbell, and Letha Raehal.

There will be a celebration of life for Merle on Saturday, May 20^th, from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m at 2538 Palmer Avenue in Mead, CO.