Ruth Marian Zimmerman

Ruth, who often goes by Marian, has lived all her life in the Kalamazoo area, having graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. She had an older brother, Arthur and has a younger sister Phyllis. Marian and her family are members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

Marian was married for nearly 50 years to Harold Zimmerman until the time of his death in 1987. Together, they raised 4 children, all living in the Kalamazoo area: Dan, Bonnie, Steve, and Betti. She also has been a wonderful mother-in-law to Pat, Brian, Claudia and Ron. Harold and Marian met when Harold rented a room from Marian’s mother, and it was pretty much love at first sight! On dates they went to the movies, out to dinner and out dancing. They continued going dancing after their children were older, “every Friday night” at the VFW. In later years, their favorite song to dance to was “Proud Mary.”

Marian was involved in her children’s lives during their formative years, active in the PTA and as a cub scout den mother. She is known to be an animal lover and was often there to help one or more of her children “rescue” a wounded animal (notably a rooster for which she made a cast for a broken leg!) There were always dogs and cats as part of the family, and for a time, horses as well.

Marian and Harold started a business together, R &H Enterprises, and Ruth worked in the office during this time. She was never far from home and her children, though, as their business were on the same property as their home, always a welcoming place.

Marian is a member of the Parchment United Methodist Church, where she has many friends; she worked on the annual church rummage sale faithfully. She was also a member of the Quota Club (a club of women in business) and Daughters of the Nile. She took up golfing when her children were grown and enjoyed her golf league very much.

When Harold and Marian’s children were grown, they owned a motor home and traveled every year, especially to Florida in the winters. They had great times with their friends traveling.

Among Marian’s favorite memories were the many times the family gathered around the pool at their home for wonderful times. Marian and Harold always had a comfortable welcoming home!

Ruth Marian Zimmerman, age 91, died on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice. She was born June 16, 1922 in Kalamazoo. In addition to her husband Harold, she was preceded in death by her brother Arthur Major and a granddaughter Maj-Britt Ann Spaulding.

Members of her family include her children: Dan (Pat) Zimmerman, Bonnie (Brian) Spaulding, Steve (Claudia) Zimmerman, and Betti (Ron) Wielenga. Other members of her family include her 9 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, a great great grandchild, and a sister Phyllis Taber. Learn more about Ruth and visit with her family and friends on Friday from 6-8 pm at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Dr., (375-2900). Services will be held at 11 am on Saturday at the Parchment United Methodist Church, 225 Glendale, which she was member for more than 50 years. Burial will be in the East Cooper Cemetery.

Please visit Ruth’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook online before coming to the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the Shriner Hospital for Children or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.