Donald George Zimmerman
Donald George Zimmerman, 88, of Westboro passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 2, 2026 under the loving care of his family and Hope Hospice. Don was born on the Zimmerman family farm on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1937, to George and Marie (Shebestak) Zimmerman. Growing up the youngest on a multi-generational dairy farm, Don’s childhood was spent working hard alongside the family, but also held space for developing a love for the thrill of living and adventure. It was always a joy to hear him reminisce about “the old” days of his childhood, like how he got stuck in a lightning storm about a mile away from home while getting the cows for milking, how he would walk down to visit the bachelor neighbors, the Posorske brothers, to play checkers, driving around his Model T as a young teen to find grouse to hunt, or how he’d hide out on days he was supposed to go help his grandmother hill potatoes.
As a child, Don attended the Westboro School and then joined the workforce. He made many friends while working at Omark, Hurd Millwork, as a logger, and on road construction before taking over the family dairy farm in 1974.
On Nov. 30, 1968, Don married Helen Mabie in Prentice. Shortly after their marriage, they made their home in Westboro and together had two children, Michelle and Mark. The family worked side by side as the 3rd generation to run the Zimmerman family dairy farm, which ended operations in the early 2000s after Don suffered a near fatal logging accident. But Don, who always seemed invincible, wasn’t about to let that logging accident slow him down. Instead, his hard work ethic and ambition couldn’t let the farm sit empty, so soon after the dairy cows left the farm, a beef herd took its place for Don to tend and care after.
Don was a pillar of strength, a whirlwind of energy, and a creative problem solver. He loved to be outdoors, hunting, fishing, and making firewood. He was habitually active and energetic, always tinkering, creating, building, or fixing. If you were to stop over on a random day, you’d most likely see him working in his shop or on a tractor, always completely covered in grease. When he saw you, he’d likely offer you an
1937-2026
orange soda or a popsicle, plop down on one elbow on the grass to ask what was new, then strike up a conversation. Topics often could range about what he’d been working on, how the rain always seemed to split and go around us, or a story from the past, usually involving his good friend Ray Lapp, a bad rooster, or a mean bull. He enjoyed the slow process of hard work and labor, and as he said, some of the advances in technology to make things faster and easier “took all the fun out of it and made it feel like work”.
Don always said that he lived in the best time to live, and had the unique opportunity to see many changes happen over time on the farm that his grandfather built, his father continued, and where he was born and died. He saw hand-milking by kerosene lanterns change to electricity in the barn with step-savers. He watched technology advance and new appliances be added to the home. He went from all of the water being hand-pumped from the well in the barn to indoor plumbing. And yet, he remained simple. He didn’t get caught up in all of the frivolous distractions of life and didn’t buy into the idea that all of the new technologies would make a person happy. With all that he saw in his life, he was a treasure box of information and knowledge. The legacy that he leaves behind is a love for the land, a love for his family, a love of hard work, and a love of adventure. He worked hard and played hard, and because of that, he lived a full life with many wonderful memories to reflect upon.
Don will be greatly missed by his children, Michelle (Scott) Brehm and Mark (Dana) Zimmerman, both of Westboro; grandchildren, Sadie (Dan) Jensen, Jake (Emily) Brehm, Taylor Zimmerman, Jessie Zimmerman; great-grandchildren, Chase, Brinley, Kylie, Leah, Lainey, Asher, Tevy, Adley, Grady; a sister, Ruth Baker, of Hawkins; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Sewell, and brothers-in-law, Jim (Barb) Mabie, Mike Mabie; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Don in his death is his wife of 57 years, Helen on Jan. 4, 2026; his parents; his in-laws, George and Dorothy Mabie; brother, Eugene Zimmerman; a sister, Dolores (Milton) Kahl; a sister-in-law, Shirley Merrick; and brothers-in-law, Ray Baker, Tom Mabie, Rich Mabie, and Bob Mabie.
At Don’s request, there will be no formal funeral services.
Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford is serving the family. Please visit www.hemerfuneralservice. com to share condolences online.
Paid Obituary 188445
