Robert Zimmer

Robert Zimmer, age 63, of Staples died on Thursday, December 14, 2000 at the Greater Staples Hospital. A Memorial Mass will be 11:00 AM on Monday, December 18th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples with Father Lauren Germann officiating. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Richfield, MN. Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.
Robert Eastman Zimmer was born on February 5, 1937, in Boston, Massachusetts, to William and Sophia (Petersen) Zimmer. It was in Boston that he grew up and graduated from high school. Following school he entered the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon his honorable discharge, Bob moved to Minnesota. On September 1, 1962, he married Judith Grisco in Minneapolis. They moved to Willmar, MN, where he gained employment with Great Northern Railroad and later Burlington Northern Railroad as a conductor. In 1970, they moved to Elk River, MN and continued to work for Burlington Northern. In 1991, he was saddened by the death of his wife, Judith. In February of 1993, he married Audrey Finn of Staples. Following his retirement in June of 1993, Bob and Audrey made their home in Staples. He was a very talented woodworker and handyman. He enjoyed working with and fixing computers. Bob was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, United Transportation Union, Staples Senior Citizens and Todd Co. Senior Council. He and Audrey also did volunteer taxes, were chairmen of the Sacred Heart School Alumni Fund and were delegates to the Republican Convention.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey; 2 sons, Thomas (Mica) Zimmer of Elk River, MN and Michael (Amy) Zimmer of Bayport, MN; 1 daughter, Mary (Sean) Conroy of Fayetteville, NC; 4 step-sons, Dennis (Kerry) Finn of Fargo, ND, Timothy (Kathy) Finn of Staples, John Finn of Hastings, MN and Joseph (Kim) Finn of Delano, MN; 4 step-daughters, Becky Ruter of Anoka, MN, Peggy (Mark) Bounds of Staples, Carol (Greg) Bruhn of Delano, MN and Deb (Patrick) Tomann of Hamel, MN; 20 grandchildren; 2 sisters, Louise (Merrill) Pregler of Brainerd, MN and Ruth Zimmer of Boston, MA; 2 brothers, Tom Zimmer of Boston, MA and Peter Zimmer of San Francisco, CA. His parents, his first wife, Judith and 4 brothers and sisters preceded him in death.