Service: Private

Robert L. Bob Zimmerman, 70 of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at his home after a lengthy illness in the care of his loving family. There will be a private family service. Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton has been entrusted with the arrangements and the family is receiving condolences on line at www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Robert Lee Zimmerman was born March 31, 1945, at Westphalia, Iowa, the only child of Francis Lee and Eunice (Miller) Zimmerman. As a young boy, he moved with his parents to Maple River, Iowa, where he grew up. Bob graduated from Kemper High School in Carroll, Iowa, with the class of 1963. While in school, he was on the football and wrestling teams. After high school, Bob completed the Universal Trade School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

During this time in his life, Bob met the love of his life, Pat Oakley of Manning, Iowa. He was drafted into the US Army and served in Viet Nam from 1965 to 1967. On February 26, 1966, Bob came home on leave and married Pat at Maple River. They later honey mooned in Hawaii while Bob was still in the service.

Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home to work at Northern Propane in Carroll. The growing family moved to Mapleton, Iowa in 1980, where he continued to work at Great Plains and later at Lakes Gas in Minnesota. From there he worked at Jacobson Lumber in Mapleton and just recently retired from Ida Grove Roofing in Ida Grove, Iowa.

Bob coached little league ball for many years. He was a devoted Green Bay Packers fan for years and enjoyed time spent in his room decorated in Packers memorabilia.

Those family members left to embrace their loving memories of Bob include Pat, his wife of very nearly 50 years; his kids, Scott Zimmerman and his wife, Christy of Mapleton, Iowa, Cory Zimmerman and his girlfriend, Sara, of Dexter, Kansas, Tina Hopkins and her husband, Kenny of Mapleton, Iowa, and Mike Zimmerman and his wife, Jess of Bellevue, Nebraska; grandkids, Kevin, Torey, Katie, Matt, Maren, Josh, Nathan, Noah, Josiah, Emma, Ella, Grace, Grace, Joey, Turk, Cody, Frankie, Sammy, Isiah, Bradyn, and Jadence; and two great grandkids, Evan and Kynzlie; along with other extended family members.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.