Rodney James Zimmerman's Obituary
Rodney J. Zimmerman, Colonel, United States Air Force, retired, was born 20 February 1932 in Gackle, ND; survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce L. Zimmerman. Rodney entered military service in March 1954 in Montgomery, AL after graduating from the University of North Dakota, Fargo, N.D. After Officer basic training he was initially stationed in England at RAF Molesworth, where he married Joyce Larson, of Jamestown, ND. They were then assigned to Seymore Johnson AFB, NC., Johnson AFB, Tokyo Japan, and University of Minnesota for his Masters in Hospital Administration., Carswell AFB, TX., Colorado Springs, CO., Washington DC., Rhein Main AFB, Germany, RAF Alconbury, England, and finally Offutt AFB, NB, where he retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel. He began a new phase of his life by becoming the Hospital Administrator for Brookhaven Medical in Dallas, TX. He spent the next four years expanding the Medical Center to include a new Cardiac Care unit. After 1979 the family moved to St. Louis, MO, and Rodney began a new career as a hospital building consultant. While continuing this endeavor he and his family moved to Peoria, Al,. Rodney moved with his family back to Fairfax, VA in 1989 and became semi-retired, while still doing part time work as a Hospital Consultant. Rodney and Joyce made their final move back to the Plano, TX, area, where they live today. Rodney was a member of the Masons of Arizona and member of the Retired Officers Assoc. Survivors are Daughter Kathy, Sons Terry and his wife Barbara, David, Jason and his wife Adrienne. Grandchildren include, Melissa, Julie, Trevor, Tiffany, Olivia, Savannah and his little friend Honey Bee. Family will receive friends from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, August 14, 2011 at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 15, 2011 at Restland Wildwood Chapel. Interment to follow at DFW National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. The family would like to thank the third floor nurses at the Richardson Methodist Hospital and Dr. Sam Bibawi for their support and unwaving professionalism during this time. Special thanks to John and Carolyn Rummel for their countless years of support in the past and future. We will all remember him for his love, caring, guidance, charity, generosity, laughter and tolerance. No more pain or confusion, just peace and tranquility shall follow him for the rest of time.
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