Richard “Dick” Zimmerman

Born November 30, 1948, in Sandusky, Ohio, a son of Wayne and Hilda Zimmerman, Dick was raised in Sandusky with his three siblings. He spent most of his life in Ohio where he graduated from Western Reserve High School.

He continued his education at Ohio State University, earning his Bachelors of Science in Vocational Agriculture. While in high school and college, Dick worked as a farrier. Upon graduation from college, he began teaching future farmers high school vocational agriculture in Ohio for a few years before managing a grain elevator operation for a brief time. He eventually started his long-term career in agricultural sales, working for multiple companies in seed corn, fertilizer, and soy beans. Dick was always so interested in helping farmers and understanding their soil so as to help them produce maximum yield from their crops. He officially retired, but still felt the need to keep busy. For a brief time, he moved to Tennessee where he built a home from the logs he cut from his property. He next worked for a horse transport company and traveled all over the country. The job was labor intensive and when he couldn’t do that anymore he started working for Indiana Transport where he would pick up trailers from the manufacturers and deliver them to the dealers, traveling the whole country.

In July 2017, Dick met Nancy Redfern on Farmersonly.com and they began talking. In December 2017, the two met in person for the first time when he came to visit her in Skandia. He always claimed Nancy stole his keys so he couldn’t ever leave. The couple was united in marriage in March 2018 at Community Covenant Church in Carlshend. Dick sold his home in Tennessee and moved to Skandia, using some of the money to purchase a little sawmill and start a maple sugar operation. The couple spent the following years enjoying their property, and since Nancy retired, they enjoyed traveling. They celebrated their 5th anniversary with an Alaskan Cruise. Dick was a hard worker who loved farming and all that nature had to offer in the great outdoors. His hobbies and special interests centered around horses, maple syrup, his sawmill, working on their land and making improvements to the farm. He possessed a great sense of humor, sarcastic wit, and was enjoyably harassable. Dick loved to drive and it was a rare occasion when Nancy got behind the wheel. One his favorite pets was his little Schnauzer, Towney, that he had when he and Nancy first met.

A service, commemorating Dick’s life, will be held at the Community Covenant Church in Carlshend on Wednesday, July 12, at 5:00 pm with Pastor Todd Spranger officiating. A meal will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.