Stephen H. Zimmerman

Steve was born on February 4, 1947, son of Rev. Elmer Edward Zimmerman and Ruth Kaiser Zimmerman, in Fremont, Ohio. He graduated from Fremont Ross High School Class of 1965, Thiel College in 1969, and Ohio State Law School in 1972. Steve's extensive legislative experience began as legal counsel for the Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as a Lieutenant at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. He added to his experience by working in the Michigan State Legislature prior to joining the law firm Dykema Gossett, where he became a partner and served as a Member of Dykema's Executive Board and as the Managing Member of the firm's Washington, D.C. office. At Dykema, Steve expanded its state legislative program and created its federal lobbying program on Capitol Hill. In addition, Steve provided services before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and State. He also served as U.S. regulatory counsel for the Canadian life insurance industry. Steve was also well known for spearheading Dykema’s Presidential Inauguration Events at the Willard Hotel for eight presidential terms over the span of 32 years.

Steve continued his legislative services after retirement as a pro bono lobbyist for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, in addition to serving as a member of the steering committee of the Lansing Area Parkinson’s Support Group. He dedicated himself to leveraging his deep knowledge of how Washington and Congress worked, combined with his own personal story and experience, to advocate for research to help not himself, but future generations of Parkinson’s patients.

He was a member of University Lutheran Church in East Lansing, MI, and a proud member of their choir for 48 years. He also sang in Christ Church Choir in Washington, DC. He had a deep love of playing and singing music and was known to break out his soaring tenor voice on a moment’s notice. Some say they can still hear his echoes of “Oh Danny Boy” bouncing across the water at Trout Lake, his beloved Zimmerman family cabin in the Upper Peninsula.

Steve is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda (Michaels); his son, Justin Zimmerman (Kristi Nissenholtz); daughters, Leah Zimmerman and Rachel Showalter (MAJ Joshua Showalter); and grandchildren, Jack and Riley Zimmerman and Avery and Kaitlyn Showalter; siblings, Rev. Robert Zimmerman, Rev. James (Paula) Zimmerman, and Ruth Ann (Dennis) Brindley; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Zimmerman and Candi Zimmerman; and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. E.E. and Ruth Zimmerman; sister-in-law, Kathleen Zimmerman; and brothers, David Zimmerman and Rev. John Zimmerman.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Gorsline Runciman East Chapel, 1730 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, with visitation at 3:00 pm and service at 4:00 pm, at University Lutheran Church, 1020 S Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Steve’s memory to: Lansing Area Parkinson’s Support Group, www.lapsg.org/donate ; Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinsonsmi.org or The Michael J. Fox Foundation, www.michaeljfox.org