Aaron Lawrence (Larry) Zimmerman was born Nov. 17, 1919, second child of Aaron Lawrence Zimmerman Sr. and Alice Winter Zimmerman. He passed away peacefully on Bainbridge Island at home on March 30, 2014.
Larry grew up on a dry land wheat farm in western Montana and rode a buggy to a one-teacher, one-room elementary school. After attending high school in Conrad, Mont., he moved to Chicago to attend business college. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and served in Newfoundland and Brazil. Upon his discharge in 1946 he returned to Montana and married Lorrine Tschache of Hamilton, Mont.
He began his family life while attending college at the University of Montana, obtaining degrees in Math and Physics in 1949. In 1951 he was awarded a federal scholarship to the University of Chicago to further his education in Meteorology. He spent 33 years in the Weather Service, serving in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sacramento, Calif., and Corvallis, Ore., before ending his career in 1976 as Meteorologist in Charge in Seattle.
Following retirement he taught at the University of Montana and coordinated an air quality program in the Missoula valley. After 10 years of this “retirement,” he retired again and spent pleasant years traveling with his wife Lorrine, including a seven-week stay in New Zealand and a trip to the British Isles. Larry and Lorrine enjoyed camping and bridge and Larry was an avid gardener. They also loved to dine out.
Larry was a man who believed that actions speak louder than words, and felt a strong duty to his family and community. He loved to discuss issues of the day and appreciated a good (or bad) pun.
Larry is survived by his wife Lorrine, and two of his five children, Eileen Nicol of Bainbridge Island and Janet Zimmerman of Atlanta, Ga. A small memorial service was held on Bainbridge Island, and his ashes will be interred in the family plot in Hamilton, Mont. Donations in Larry’s name may be made to Poverello of Missoula or Franciscan Hospice. Please sign the online guest book at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.
