Anita Ruth Zimmer

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our Wife, Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunt, and friend Anita Ruth Zimmer (Haas) of Russell, Manitoba on May 13th, 2023, at the Russell Health Centre at the age of 83.

Anita Zimmer was born on March 3, 1940, she was the third child of Frank and Magdalena Haas and grew up on a farm near Langenburg, Saskatchewan. Anita attended Echo School from grade 1-8, and after grade 8 moved to Langenburg where she attended the high school there until graduating.

In 1958, Anita attended a teacher's college in Winnipeg for 6 weeks of training and received her teacher's permit to teach in Freefield, a country school east of Inglis, Manitoba, she returned to the college in Winnipeg in 1959 and took additional training to obtain her Teachers Certificate. Anita started her teaching career by teaching at a few different country schools in the area close to Russell, Manitoba.

Anita met Audie Zimmer while teaching at the Endcliffe School, they dated for a couple of years, were engage in September of 1963 and then married on April 3rd, 1964.

Audie and Anita moved to his family homestead. Audie continued to farm, and Anita continued to teach in many different schools. They both enjoyed multiple sports, attended softball and fastball tournaments, curling bonspiels, and joined a square dance club to dance weekly. Between 1969 and 1973 they were blessed with 3 sons, Darin, Devin, and Dean, the boys kept Anita very busy as a stay-at-home Mom until they were all able to attend school. Once all the boys were in school, Anita returned to teaching and continued her education by taking courses by correspondence. Anita received a variety of certificates including her Bachelor of Education and Teaching Certificate, she continued to teach full time until retiring in 1996, following her retirement she would work as a substitute teacher as needed.  Anita left a great impact on many of her students over the years, she was there with wisdom and compassion for all the kids and her care was sincere.

Anita gave an exhausting amount of time, energy, and resources to her community. She was a pillar who stood strong in her belief of the benefits of volunteering and community, especially the Russell Area Heritage & Arts Centre where she spent a lot of her time keeping the community history alive. She was always relied upon to recall family history which later resulted in the publishing of multiple History Books which included the Haas and Zimmer Families. Anita also had a great love for music, she was able to pick up almost any instrument and play.  She was always excited to share these talents with her grandchildren.

In 1982, Anita partnered with her sister Myra to open a business named MALA Shoes, Ladies Wear and Men’s Wear, which was located on Main Street in Russell, Manitoba, this family business carried on for many years and was later changed to MALA Party Boutique which Anita gradually ended up running individually until she closed the doors in 2017.

Anita and Audie were happy to be involved and support their boys in all their sports and activities throughout the years.  The boys expanded their family and blessed them with 9 grandchildren. Anita always enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, she would try to attend or watch each one of their events or activities and was always ready to help them with homework anytime they asked.

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

Anita will be dearly missed by her husband Audie Zimmer, her 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. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Eva Haas, sisters Gertrude Russin (Edward), Myra Kilkenny, brother in-law Edward Zimmer, sister in-laws Annie Nernberg, Herta Nernberg, and Ruth Zimmer as well as many nieces and nephews.