Harold James "Zeke" Zimmer

Harold James “Zeke” Zimmer, aged 88 of Columbus, Ohio, passed away at Dublin Methodist Hospital on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Born May 27,1936 in Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of the late Harold Carl and Phyllis (Auld) Zimmer.

Zeke was a veteran of the United States Army and a graduate of the Ohio State University.

He loved life and cherished time with his family and friends. Many will remember the “Thursday” open dinners hosted by Zeke and Yancey where they welcomed and fed anyone who cared to come through their door.  Never shy, he loved music and dancing and was often the first, and sometimes the only, man on the dance floor.  If not on the dance floor he might be found on a lake somewhere fishing.  And as much as he loved to fish, he often spent most of his time trying to make sure everyone else caught fish – believing if you caught fish then you would love fishing too. But Zeke might best be remembered in his daily uniform of Carhartt overalls, an unlit cigar, and an ornery grin, joking with people as he walked the buildings and jobsites he supervised as a partner of Riverglen Builders in Columbus, Ohio.

Zeke is survived by his loving wife and dance partner of 65 years, Yancey Ann (Roberts) Zimmer; sons, Patrick Joseph (Kimberly) Zimmer of Columbus, Ohio, Michael Thomas (Meta) Zimmer of Norman, Oklahoma, and John Matthew (James) Zimmer of Arundel, United Kingdom; daughter, Christine Marie (Patrick) McCarthy of Cleveland, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Brenda Joyce Zimmer of Arlington, Ohio; sister, Janice (David) Lipphardt of Granville, Ohio, and six grandchildren.

Besides his parents, Zeke was preceded in death by his son, Mark James Zimmer (2021) and his sister, Delores ”Peachie” (Ralph) Lockett.

A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Msgr. Frank P. Lang will be held at 10:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio on Monday, July 29, 2024. Following the mass we’ll continue the celebration of Zeke’s life with a brunch in the undercroft below the church.

In lieu of flowers, the Zimmer family suggests donations in Zeke’s memory may be made to the Mark Zimmer DeSales Wrestling Fund in care of The Catholic Foundation, 257 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, www.catholic.foundation.org. or the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, OH 43215, alz.org/centralohio.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Harold James "Zeke" Zimmer, please visit our Tree Store.