Loretta Rose (Chandler) Zimmer

It is with great sadness that the family of Loretta Zimmer, of Russell, Manitoba announces her passing on Tuesday June 16, 2020 at the age of 82 at the Roblin Health Centre with her children at her side.

Loretta was born January 23, 1938 to Robert and Olive Chandler in Tantallon, Saskatchewan but grew up in the Harrowby district with her three siblings Gordon, Margaret and Lawrence. She was a real tomboy and worked hard outside putting up hay, milking, feeding and such.  Loretta was an avid ball player and because there weren't enough boys for the ball team; she played with them.  We understand there was no fear in her missing the balls that came whipping at her at first base.  She went to school in Harrowby up to grade 9 and finished high school in Russell.  She graduated high school in 1956 and completed one year of teacher's training in Winnipeg for the school term 1956/57.  She then taught in Thunder Creek for a couple years and one year at Shoal Lake.  Loretta married Kurt in July 1960 and they lived in Russell.  She taught in Harrowby for one and a half years until Keith was born in 1962.  Kurt and Loretta purchased the Cliff Jackson half and the Cusitar section 3 1/2 miles west and south of Russell.  Colleen was born August 1964 and passed in May 1965.  In 1966 Kurt and Loretta started the PMU operation on their land and continued grain farming.  Their daughters Bonnie, January, 1967 and Lori, February 1971 were born while they continued building the mixed farming operation and purchased land close to the valley.  It was a busy operation with work all summer to prepare to have the mares in the barn all winter.  they raised thoroughbred horses and took pride in their stock.  Loretta spent hours working on the registration forms getting the exact detail of how each foal's markings were to be described on the registration papers.  She also loved watching them race and enjoyed when they got a satellite dish so they could watch the horse racing live.  They opted out of the PMU business and 1996/97 was their last year of collection.  They sold some land but kept the home section which they rented out.  They moved into Russell in July 2012 and continued to rent the home section.

Loretta kept great books and her attention to detail was like no one.  She loved dancing and loved visiting on the phone.  She made fantastic Halloween costumes and birthday cakes.  Her garden was weedless and she made a lot of preserves.  She taught Sunday School.  She loved card games, puzzles, crossword puzzles, sudoku and collecting coins.  She curled when she was younger.  Loretta also enjoyed watching ball and curling on TV but loved watching her granddaughters Eliah and Jenna play ball more.

Loretta is predeceased by husband Kurt, daughter Colleen, mother Olive and father Robert, brother Gordon, parents-in-law Rudolph and Frieda, brothers-in-law Wes Ruddick and Ralph Zimmer, sisters-in-law Marjorie Zimmer and Ann Chandler as well as other cousins, uncles and aunts.

Loretta is survived by her son Keith (Jennifer), daughters Bonnie (Robert) Scebenski, and Lori Bedwell.  Grandchildren Patti, Milissa (John Dunn), Kurtis, Marla (Jon) Sylvester, Marci, Josie (Jesse) Bushman, Ryan Scebenski, Eliah Bedwell and Jenna Bedwell and ten great grandchildren.  Sister Margaret Ruddick, brother Lawrence (Lynn), sisters-in-law Edna (Bill) Thompson and Eleanor (Ken) Reykjalin and several nieces and nephews.