Howard Edward Zimmerman, 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, October 21, 2023 in Turlock, California.
Howard, known to many as “Z-man”, was born on September 21st, 1950 to Edmund Charles Zimmerman and Evelyn Joyce (Bacon) Zimmerman in Modesto, California. As a child, when he wasn’t playing little league baseball, thanks to his wonderful parents, Howard, his sister Carolyn, and sometimes cousins and friends, got dragged around the country in the heat and cold in their mom and dad’s RV/campers. After graduating from Thomas Downey High School where he played Varsity football (Class of 1968), he attended Modesto Junior College for two years, after which he worked for a local veterinarian before entering the military.
Howard joined and served in the United States Army Reserves where he achieved the officer rank of Major, an accomplishment and title of which he was very proud. He revered his military service and he could talk about it for hours with anyone who was willing to listen, a trait he inherited from his father. Long after his own service, he supported veterans by frequently donating to the Wounded Warriors Project.
At 22 years old, Howard started a job that would end up being a 30-year career at Proctor & Gamble (P&G) in Modesto. He took great pride in his work ethic and all the wonderful people he worked with, which he referred to as his P&G family, many members of which he has remained in contact with over the years.
After his “first retirement” at P&G, he retired a second time after eight years as maintenance manager at the Staples Distribution Center in Stockton. He retired for good in 2014.
Over the years, Howard loved dirt bike riding and drag boat racing with friends, and going to Nascar and Kart car races. He enjoyed golfing and he particularly loved RV camping with his wife and family creating memories with his children and grandchildren as the family expanded over the years. Visits to Lake Tahoe were among his favorites, outdone only by Pismo Beach, which was their second home in the RV for Howard and his wife, Angie. They were fortunate to go on travel adventures together to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and more, all the while realizing that being together was more important than the destination.
Howard is survived by the love of his life, Angie Zimmerman; son Matthew Zimmerman; daughter Caitlin Zimmerman; step-daughter Sheri Ribeiro (Mark); step-son Michael Henderson (Jenny); nine grandchildren: Marissa Provan (Zach); Rachel Ribeiro; Grace Zimmerman-Ibarra; Cristian Ibarra; Kaila Zimmerman; Koa Zimmerman; Paige Henderson; Alexa Henderson; one great-granddaughter Ensley Provan; and one great-grandson on the way.
Howard is preceded in death by his father Ed Zimmerman, mother Evelyn Zimmerman, and sister Carolyn Jane Martin (Joe). Howard was a cat-lover and leaves behind his faithful sidekick, Patch.
Howard will be remembered for being a rebel at times, for his candid sense of humor, his mechanical skill, his ability – and willingness – to tell a tall tale or explain how the earth spins on its axis, for his love of a good football Sunday, and mostly, for his companionship, which we will surely miss.
Those wishing to honor Howard’s memory are invited to make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.
The family would like to thank the Emanuel Hospital PCU and ICU nurses and doctors that so compassionately took care of Howard while in their care.
A Memorial service will be held for Howard at Allen Mortuary in Turlock, California, on Saturday, November 4 starting at 1:00pm.
Condolence(1)-
teckelmn says
January 17, 2024 at 5:15 amI was lucky enough to work with Howard @ Staples, He was a great guy with solutions to any problem I might have at Staples. We talked food and cars a lot as he had an office next to mine. I remember when he retired from Staples he gave me one of his Staples jackets (As we were the same size) I still have it and will treasure it.
God Bless Ray Murray