Russell G. Zimmer

Russell G. Zimmer, age 72, of Raymond, died Thursday, December 5, in Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital from an apparent heart attack.  

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 11, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.     Russell George Zimmer was born October 17, 1947, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of George and Augusta (Jaenisch) Zimmer.  He grew up in Raymond, was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City, and graduated from Raymond High School in 1965.  He then attended the Willmar Vo-Tech for four years, earning degrees in both agriculture and diesel mechanics.  On April 29, 1972, he married Pamela Rae Stegeman at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo.  They lived and worked on the Zimmer family farm near Raymond.  Russell later was employed at Jennie-O, Minnesota Express, Gibson Trucking, and the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Co-op in Renville.   He enjoyed fixing old cars and tractors, attending threshing shows, being with his family and grandchildren, and socializing with his “coffee club.”  

Russell is survived by his wife: Pamela of Raymond, MN; three children: Kelli (and Chad) Petersen of Kandiyohi, MN, Karla (and Justin) Cronen of Hancock, MN, and Ross (and Mario) Zimmer of Chattanooga, TN; and seven grandchildren: Connor, Caleb and Kathryn Petersen and Brady, Alyssa, Tyler and Kylie Cronen.  Also surviving are a sister-in-law: Patty (and Larry) Smoley of Warsaw, MN; his mother-in-law: Vernice Stegeman of New London, MN; and other relatives and friends.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant brother.  

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