Gerald "Jerry" L. Zimmerman

He is survived by his wife Sue and their 6 children, Bob, Sarah, Mary, Maggie, Rebecca, and Michael, along with their significant others, Jen, Scott, Yerye, Lucas, and Kassie, their 8 grandchildren, Katelynn, Lillian, Harper, Robert, Kenny, Wyatt, Wyoming, and Miles, and 2 dogs, Luke and Auggie, together with extended family and friends.

Jerry was born in Youngstown, Ohio on October 1, 1950, and moved to Florida as a young child. He spent most of his childhood playing stick ball at the West Miami Recreation Center, a.k.a. “the rec”. He graduated from Miami Coral Park High School in 1969, and became a journeyman plumber, working for Rusty Plumbing for over 30 years.

He was an avid ball player, athlete, and coach. He met his wife, Sue, at a charity softball event playing for Duffy’s Tavern in 1982. They were married just a few months later, on February 26, 1983. They started their beautiful family in 1984 with the birth of their first son, Bobby, followed shortly thereafter by a succession of 4 girls, Sarah, Mary, Maggie, and Rebecca, until he finally got his second son, Michael, in 1996, and they officially shut down the baby factory.

Their family lived in Miami until 1998, when they moved to Naples in search of a quieter life and better schools. They purchased a home on a 2.25-acre lot, where he lived out the rest of his life taking care of the yard, weed eating, and making his kids and grandkids do something that he did as a young boy at the rec, called “picky picky” (picking up sticks and pinecones).

He went to work for the Collier County Water Department in March 2000 and worked there for over 20 years until his retirement in March of 2021, making sure to instill in his co-workers how things were done “back in Miami-Dade”. Jerry was a hard worker, a devoted coach and mentor, and a stubborn, strong-headed, outspoken, unapologetic, over 6-foot tall, big softy at heart.

But more than anything, he was first and foremost a loving and devoted husband and best friend to his wife for 40 years, and the absolute best father and grandpa. There was not a single day that went by that he wasn’t doing something for his family. He will be forever missed and loved by everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

In remembrance, the family will be holding a public memorial service at the Max Hasse Community Park on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 1:30 PM, followed by a private gathering at the Zimmerman residence.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Zimmerman family.