J. Michael "Mike" Zimmers

J. Michael “Mike” Zimmers, age 72, passed away in his sleep at home, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Severa Zimmers (originally from Cedar Rapids, IA), and daughter, Layne A. Zimmers, both of Springfield.

Mike was born on Oct. 15, 1949, in Chicago, IL, the son of William F. Zimmers of Vienna, IL, and Dorothy L. (Meeks) Zimmers, originally of Rosiclare, IL. He moved back to his hometown, Vienna, IL, where he attended Vienna High School (Class of 1967). Mike met his wife, Nancy, on a blind date in Chicago. They were married the following year, on August 3, 1974, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Eric S. Zimmers.

Other survivors include cousins, David A. Allbritten of Belknap, IL, Trina Kozer of Clearwater, FL, and Michael Accomondo and Lisa (Accomondo) Keller of Longwood, FL; extended family, including Nancy’s sisters and their spouses – Sidney and Larry Lutz and Sara and Duane Tack, both of Swisher, IA, and Stacy the late Dave Martin of Cedar Rapids; and nieces and nephews and their children. Another family member is Lori Smith, Layne’s partner.

Mike earned a master’s in educational administration at University of Illinois- Springfield (1991) and a bachelor’s at MacMurray College (1971), where he was MVP and basketball captain his senior year. In 2014, he was named to MacMurray’s Athletic Hall of Fame, having held the all-time single season rebound record.

He had 37 years of experience in public school education as a teacher, coach, principal and administrator, 34 years in Springfield. Mike began his teaching career as a behavior disorders (BD) middle school teacher in Park Ridge, IL (1974-77). He moved to Springfield, working as BD middle school teacher for 13 years at Washington/Feitshans and Grant Middle Schools, and coaching girls’ and boys’ basketball and track. Mike began his administrative career as an assistant principal and athletic director at Washington and Jefferson Middle Schools for 15 years (1990-2005).

Mike was named principal at Jefferson (2005-08), where he started the first gender-based education program in Springfield and introduced the nationally recognized Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST), a program still used in Springfield Schools. In 2009, he was recruited to work as a managing principal for 3 years. Mike retired in 2011.

He ran for Springfield School Board in 2013, with a theme “I’m in it for our kids because our kids come first!” and went on to serve 9.5 years as a member of the Springfield #186 school board, serving residents of Sub-District 4, including 3 as Board President and 3 as Vice President. Mike was active on the Facilities Planning Committee and the city-wide Keep Kids in School effort every fall, to encourage immunizations. He also served on the One Sangamon Schools group, which organized a countywide school tax referendum that successfully passed a sales tax increase in 2018, benefitting 9 county school districts. He was particularly pleased to be concluding his service on the board, as the first major renovation projects for Springfield Schools from that referendum were being completed this year, and so many more were underway.

In April 2022, Mike was presented with the Bob Goldman Friend of Education award by the Springfield Education Association. In accepting the award, he said it meant so much because it was an award from teachers, and he was blessed to have worked with so many talented and dedicated teachers and administrators in Springfield. Mike loved visiting schools, listening to administrators, going into classrooms, talking with teachers, interacting with students (being called a giant by one kindergartner), helping with parent requests, serving as head timer for track meets, cheering at City Tournament, and many other activities. He loved it all.

His professional affiliations include the Council for Exceptional Children, Springfield Principals Association (past president), and the Springfield Education Association/Illinois Education Association/National Education Association.

Mike’s community activities include service as a classroom volunteer at Enos Elementary School, reader for Real Men Read, and long-time member of the Interview Committee for the Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program, a joint program with SIU School of Medicine. He also volunteered for United Way Education Vision Team, Rotary International-Sunrise Chapter (past president), Cherry Hills Homeowners Association (past president), MacMurray College Alumni Board (past president), Race Unity Council, and Central Illinois Food Bank.

A lifelong Cubs fan, Mike enjoyed games at Wrigley Field and Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ, and got his “just once in my lifetime” wish when they won the World Series in 2016. He enjoyed working out at (and supporting) the Springfield Y, gardening and keeping his many bird feeders filled, and walking the family’s Westie and his best buddy, Duffy.

A long-time supporter of the Springfield Public Schools Foundation (SPSF), Mike was in the process of establishing a new fund to support local Springfield School teachers, called the “Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Fund”, or the “Mike Z Teacher Fund”, for short. His plan was for SPS teachers who wish to attend professional development meetings or conferences that require financial support (not available through Springfield Schools or personal means), to apply for support from this new fund. Mike’s family will continue his work on the fund, which is to be supported by a major personal gift at the time of his death.

Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 2:00 – 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Springfield Southeast High School Auditorium, 2350 E. Ash St., Springfield. Funeral will follow at 5:00 p.m., with Celebrant Judy Woerner officiating and accompanied by various speakers.

A private family ceremony for burial will be held at a later date, at St. John’s Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be mailed to Springfield Schools Foundation, Attn: Julie Hammers, 1900 W. Monroe St, Springfield, IL 62704, with a notation that the gift is for his fund. To make a PayPal donation to the fund, go to the District’s SPSF website and scroll down to the Memorial Donations area of the page- https://www.sps186.org/page/springfield-public-schools-foundation.https://www.sps186.org/page/springfield-public-schools-foundation

For those who wish to view the ceremony, you may do so by visiting https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/503228152.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.