Duane Zimmerman

Duane Zimmerman, age 92, of Urbandale, formerly of Marshalltown, passed away with family at his side at the Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad on Saturday night, February 25th, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held from 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in the Liscomb Cemetery with full military honors by the Marshalltown Combined VFW/American Legion Honor Guard. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Wounded Warriors and the Honor Flight in your respective areas. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Born on August 2nd, 1930, in Ward Springs, MN, he was the eldest child born to Gregor and Fern (Sanders) Zimmerman. He was raised in the Green Mountain area and at a young age left for South Dakota to start working. Duane always had a strong work ethic carrying through his life. Even after retirement, he returned to the work force because of his passion. He held a variety of jobs at Osco Drugs, Strands Bakery in Marshalltown (then Old Home Bakery), and Smitty’s Grocery in Marshalltown and in insurance. He retired from Old Home but went to work for Walgreens in Urbandale into his early 80’s.

His sister, Marian, had a friend who was passing in a doorway when her suitcase caught and flew open, dumping all her clothes on the ground. Well, she was flustered gathering up her clothes and all he could say “Whoever that was, I’d like to meet her.” Well, he did and on January 12th, 1954, he and LaVonne Ewalt were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown with the reception at the Bohemian Hall.

Duane enjoyed bowling, woodworking, making others laugh, and telling Ole/Lena and Ole/Sven jokes and had a great memory. A winning day for the Minnesota Vikings always made him happy. The time with family was his best time spent.

In the Korean War, Duane served our country honorably in the United States Army. He was stationed as a radioman in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart. He went back to carry a soldier out that was wounded and upon getting him to medical attention, found out he had been wounded as well.

Left to cherish his memory are LaVonne, his loving wife of 69 years; children- Mark Zimmerman of Urbandale and Cindy (Ed) Gay of Marshalltown; son-in-law Nate Wolfe of Urbandale; five grandchildren- Shem Barger, Vanessa Hageman, Nick and Luke Barger and Aaron Gay; seven great-grandchildren- Caleb, Noah, Kaylee, Isabella, Bond, Bentley and Weston; one great-great-granddaughter Alexandria Jean and siblings- Donovan “Donny” Zimmerman of Stratford, WI, Marian (Bob) McKee of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, and Sonny (Bonita) Zimmerman of Sedalia, MO, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In death, Duane rejoined his daughter Alice, his parents, brothers Gregory Franklin “Putsy” and Robert (Mary), sister-in-law Faye Zimmerman and many aunts and uncles.