Jacob "Jake" Zimmerman passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 26. 2022, at the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care in Quinter, KS. He was born on January 14, 1918, on a farm in rural Grainfield, KS to the late George and Theresia (Lovenstein) Zimmerman. He was the second oldest in the family of six daughters and two sons. He attended school in Grainfield through part of the seventh grade. He worked on the family farm, for neighbors and the Conn Hogan family in Colorado for a couple of years.
Jake served in the U.S. Army, 7th Infantry Division, 17th Regiment, H Company from March of 1941 through October 1945. He served as a heavy machine-gunner in the Pacific Theater Campaigns in the Aleutian Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines and the 82-day battle for the Rkukyus Islands of Okinawa, Japan. He was awarded a Bronze Star, two Bronze Service Stars and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal. Sgt. Zimmerman was discharged at Ft. Logan, CO and returned to Grainfield in October of 1945.
On April 15, 1947, he was united in marriage to Helen (Pfeifer) Zimmerman at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, St. Peter, KS. To this union five sons were born. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage.
Jake was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, when he was younger and then a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Grainfield. He was a member of the Grainfield Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign War, Post #2864, Grinnell, and the American Legion Post #301, Grainfield. He was a faithful Legion stag/stagette worker and served on the military funeral detail.
He enjoyed farming on the family farm southeast of Grainfield until retiring and moving into Grainfield in 1980. He enjoyed watching the crops grow and raised wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, soybeans, feed, cattle, and chickens.
Jake enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren coming to visit him. He was honored with a 100th Birthday party and special program honoring his years of service during WWII on January 14, 2018, with many relatives and friends in attendance. He enjoyed the day immensely and loved all the gifts and cards filled with well wishes. Jake enjoyed living in this own home through the assistance of his family providing daily meals and night supervision until his move into the Long-Term Care Facility in April of 2021.
Jake will be dearly missed by many friends and family including his five sons: Darold (Beverly) Grainfield, Elmer (the late Yvonne), Hoxie, Melvern (Darlene) Grainfield, Ronald (Jo Ann) Grainfield and Reuben (Dighton). Eighteen grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren. Two sisters; (JoAnn Engel), Oakley and Magdalena (Mactie) WaKeeney.
Those preceding him in death were his parents (George and Theresia) and brother, Joseph (Joe) and sister-in-law (Pauline) Zimmerman; sisters and brother-in-laws: Raymond and (Margaret) Deges, Nicklaus and (Frances) Zerr, Henry Engel, Dominic (Victoria) Zerr and Valentine and (Anna Mary) Heier and George Uhrich.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM Sunday, May 1, 2022, at St. Agnes Education Center, with vigil and rosary to follow.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, May 2, 2022, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, with Father Mitchel Zimmerman and Father James Thomas as concelebrants.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Masses, St. Agnes Catholic Church, or Grainfield American Legion. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 Main St. Quinter, Kansas, 67752.
Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com.