December 26, 2019 – Hartford, WI – David “Butch” John Zimmerman of Pardeeville, formerly of Slinger and Hartford, went home to his Lord on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at the age of 74, after a long battle of emphysema. He was born on August 30, 1945 in Hartford to parents Norman and Virginia (Nee Klahn).
Butch grew up in Slinger and graduated from Slinger High School in 1963. Upon graduation he worked at Chrysler Outboard Corp. in Hartford for three years. He then proudly served his country in the US Army from October 1966 – October 1968, serving in Vietnam from April 1967 through April of 1968. He was station in Cu Chi, 20 miles from Saigon, Unit – COA 1st Battalion 27th Infantry of the 25th Division Company known as the Wolfhounds. He received the Bronze Star for his service. Butch was united in marriage on May 8, 1971 to Jolene Weber at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Slinger. He worked for GTE – Verizon as cable splicer until his retirement in 1993.
His coaching career began in Slinger in 1973 and ended in Pardeeville in 2007. In 1984 his Slinger team won the Rock River Grand Championship. He was inducted into the Rock River Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2001. Butch also started Babe Ruth, Legion and the Pardeeville Braves – Rock River Men’s Hardball in Pardeeville. He was also an avid baseball card and memorabilia collector.
David is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jolene; three loving children, Lisa Granum, Laura Zimmerman and Daryl Zimmerman; two cherished grandsons, Austin and Ashton Granum, all of Pardeeville; father, Norman of Hartford; sister Darlene (John Sr.) Collins of Hartford; nephew, John Collins Jr.; niece, Stephanie (Matt) Sheahan; two great-nieces; one great-nephew; four brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law; also survived many other relatives and friends. David is preceded in death by his mother, Virginia who just recently passed on October 26, 2019.
Funeral Services for Butch will be held at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 799 St. Paul Drive, Slinger on Monday, December 30 at 12 with Rev. Robert Fleischmann presiding. Visitation at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service. Committal and military honors at Pleasant Hill Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. The family would like to thank the family, friends and V.A. Hospital and Clinics in Madison for their care and support over the years.
