Wayne M Zimmerman

Born October 19, 1935 in Pekin to Henry and Verna (Strickfaden) Zimmerman, he married Bonna Lynn Willock on April 14, 1957 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Lori Diane (Scott) Parkin of Pekin; one son, Jeffery Wayne (Doris) Zimmerman of Germantown Hills; five grandchildren, Joshua Scott (Clareanna) Parkin of Loves Park, Cortney Diane (Jacob) Dozard of Pekin, Jessica Lauren Zimmerman of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Stephanie Lynn Zimmerman and Derek Jeffery Zimmerman, both of Germantown Hills; five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Christopher, Lilly, Clodagh, and Michael; two sisters, Marilee (Dale) Vonderheide of Pekin and Barbara (Harold) Williams of Lockport; one brother, Glenn Zimmerman of Pekin; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Zimmerman.

A 1953 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Wayne attended Illinois State University in Normal. He completed course work at Wabash College and at Brookings.

He served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958.

In 1954, Wayne began a 44 year career at Caterpillar as a sweeper in East Peoria, and then entered the machinist apprentice training program. He served in many positions in his career with Caterpillar that allowed him to work and live in Glasgow, Scotland, Mentor, Ohio, and York, Pennsylvania. He retired in 1998 as the Vice President of the Human Services Division.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Peoria, where he had served as a trustee, on the mission’s board, and was a choir member. He had served on boards for the South Side Mission in Peoria, Pekin National Bank, and York College of Pennsylvania.

Wayne loved to fish, duck hunt, and mushroom hunt. But his greatest enjoyment came from spending time with his family. He owned a duck club in Banner and had organized the annual church fishing trip. He was a life member of Ducks Unlimited. Upon his retirement, Wayne fulfilled his long time dream of owning a farm near Lacon where he enjoyed riding on his gator and picking black raspberries.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2013 at First Baptist Church, 411 West Lake Avenue, Peoria. The Rev. Cheri Grizzard will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and also from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, both at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 411 West Lake Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614 or to Illinois Cancer Care Foundation, 8940 North Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Illinois Cancer Care, OSF Hospice, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, and Kyle’s Care at Home for the caring and compassionate care of Wayne.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com