Obituary of George Joseph Zimmer

George Joseph Zimmer was born on the farm near Pontrilas in 1936. He was the youngest of 12 children born to George and Katerina Zimmer. George grew up on the farm with his 10 sisters and one brother. At the age of 14, he went by train to British Columbia to work at a lumber camp. He carried piles of lumber day after day building up calluses on the side of his abdomen. He earned extra money by looking after the horses. Each summer he returned to the farm. Later he worked winters in the mines in Kaslo and Snow Lake and earned his explosive ticket. George married Esther Lessmeister on October 13, 1962; together they had two children Allan and Katherine. George took over the family farm and had a combined grain and cattle operation until 1964 when they sold the cattle after George was seriously injured and nearly died in a car accident. He continued grain farming and farmed with Allan before retiring from farming in 2003. He continued to live on the farm and that was exactly where he wanted to be. George played the fiddle and music was a big part of his life. Over the years, he played in more than one band, first with his brother Elmer and brothers Harold and Walter Johnson. He played with many musicians over the years at many local dances. Even when he could no longer play, he enjoyed going to fiddle festivals and old tyme fiddle competitions. Besides the farm, George enjoyed playing cards and the outdoors, hunting and fishing in particular. For years, he flew north to go fishing. He still enjoyed fishing and went on a fishing trip this spring with Allan, Colton, Sheridan and Chase. George is predeceased by Esther, his wife of 56 years, his parents George and Katerina, his sisters Sophie, Evelyn, Rose, Annie, Pat, Helen, Elizabeth, Caroline, and his brother Elmer. He is survived by his children: Allan (Doreen) Zimmer and Kathy (Neil) Pearson, his grandchildren Martin Pearson, Michael Pearson, Colton Zimmer, Sheridan Zimmer and Chase Zimmer; his sisters Margaret Switzer and Olga Malberg, sister-in-law Jean Zimmer and numerous nieces and nephews. Donation can be made to The Nipawin Fish and Game League. No Service at this time.