Adolph (Audie) Zimmer

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle and friend Adolph “Audie” Zimmer of Russell, Manitoba on May 23, 2023, at the Russell Personal Care Home at the age of 88.

Audie was born on September 18, 1934, he was the seventh child in a family of ten, 6 boys and 4 girls belonging to Julius and Maria Zimmer.  Audie was born on the Zimmer family farm near Russell, Manitoba in the municipality of Thunder Creek, he grew up there and attended the Thunder Creek School from grades 1 through 9.  Following his grade nine year Audie was then old enough to start working on the farm.

As Audie grew up, he was determined to follow in his father’s and brother’s footsteps, farming became his first passion! In 1955 when his father Julius passed, Audie and his brother Rudy continued full operation of the family farm as partners.

Audie met the love of his life, Anita Ruth Haas, who was teaching at the Endcliffe School located nearby. Audie pitched his way into the heart of “Miss Haas”, they dated for a couple of years, got engaged in September of 1963, and married on April 3, 1964.  Following the wedding, Audie and Anita moved to his family homestead, where he continued to farm, and Anita continued to teach. They both enjoyed participating in many softball and fastball tournaments, curling bonspiels, and joined a square dance club and “do-si-do’d” weekly.  

Audie loved to play ball and was quite the fast ball pitcher in his prime, and after a few years in the local fastball leagues Audie the “Bullet” quickly became well known through out the area.  Audie’s spare time was usually consumed by fastball and if he wasn’t playing the sport he was coaching or umping. 

Between 1969 and 1973 Audie and Anita were blessed with 3 sons, Darin, Devin, and Dean.  These boys kept Audie and Anita extremely busy with all their sports and activities throughout the years.  The boys expanded the family and blessed them with 9 grandchildren. Audie was eager to attend and really enjoyed watching the kids’ events or activities.  Grandpa Audie was always quick to tease or joke with all his grandchildren on many occasions, he was proud to bring out the big smiles from every one of them!

Audie is predeceased by his wife Anita Ruth Zimmer, his parents Julius and Maria Zimmer, brother Bill and Eleanor Zimmer, brother Rudy and Verna Zimmer, brother Walter and Carol Zimmer, brother Herman Zimmer, sister Elsie and Lewis Falkevitch, sister Julia and Rudolf Nernberg, sister-in-law Elsie Zimmer, brother in-law Herbert Nernberg, brother in-law Wilfred Nernberg, in laws Frank and Magdalena Haas (Anita’s parents), brother in-laws Reinhold Haas, Lorne Kilkenney, as well as nephews; Danny Zimmer, Larry Zimmer, Ronald Falkevitch, Randy Falkevitch, and Ward Zimmer.

Audie will be missed by his 3 sons, Darin and his children Kaylee, Eboni and Zachary, Devin (Mandie) and their children Rylee, Karissa, Tyson and Tayah, Dean and his children Olivia and Max. He is also survived by his sisters Annie Nernberg, Herta Nernberg, his brother Edward Zimmer, sister-in-laws, Ruth Zimmer, Eva Haas, Gertrude Russin (Edward), Myra Kilkenny as well as many nieces and nephews.