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Patricia "Pat" A. Zimmerman
Patricia “Pat” A. Zimmerman, 61, of Solon, went home to Jesus and her son, Ryan, on Friday, January 22, 2021, at the Bird House/Hospice Home of Johnson County after a courageous battle against cancer. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Solon. Although Mass is private, friends and family can livestream on the church Facebook page - facebook.com/stmarysolonia. In lieu of flowers and plants, the family suggests memorials to Iowa City Hospice or Dollars for Scholars (The Ryan Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship). Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements. Born March 28, 1959, in Iowa City, the daughter of Merle and Velma (Yoder) Breese, Pat grew up in Iowa City, graduating from Iowa City West High School in 1977. A devoted Hawkeye alumni and fan, Pat particularly loved the Iowa Wave, the community it built and the joy it brought to many young families. Pat met and later married Donald “Fred” Zimmerman on June 28, 1980, at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in West Branch. Together, they built a wonderful life and raised three amazing children. She worked for Pearson (formally NCS) for more than 30 years, retiring in 2020. Pat had many passions in life. She was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Solon; a member of Solon Women’s Club, in which she held offices at the local and state level; a contributing member of Solon Dollars for Scholars; and a member of an Iowa City bowling league for many years. She joyfully donated her time and energy to numerous charitable causes. Although many people benefitted from Pat’s passions, no one benefited more than her family. Pat was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Becoming a grandmother was the greatest joy of her life. She fiercely loved on her granddaughter, whom she lovingly called “Punkin,” for 9 years, and her grandson, who was her “Little Man” for 5 years. The love she had for her newest grandchild, Hayes, was immeasurable and gave her the strength to hold on until she could lovingly hold him in her arms. Pat’s empathy for others was unrivaled. The past two years were not just a challenge physically but emotionally as she watched the suffering of many Americans. She was able to pass peacefully knowing that our country is once again headed in a positive direction. To borrow from inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, one thing is certain, Pat believed in the ability to merge mercy with might and might with right. Love will be her legacy. Pat is survived by her husband, Don “Fred” Zimmerman; daughters, Melissa Schettler (Jon) of Pella and Nicole Roth (Nick) of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Lynden, Simon, and Hayes; a sister, Mary James (Kevin) of Marshfield, MO; and a nephew, Josh James and a niece, Kelsey (Eli) Rogers; and many other friends and loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved son Ryan in 2007 and an infant brother David.March 28, 1959 - January 22, 202103/28/195901/22/2021
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Patricia "Pat" A. Zimmerman
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