Henry Zimmerman

Wichita Eagle, Saturday, August 29, 2009

Zimmerman, Henry, 94, died Wednesday, August 26, 2009. Rosary, 7:30 p.m., Friday, August 28, Downing & Lahey East. Funeral Mass, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, August 29, Church of the Magdalen. Henry was born September 23, 1914, on a farm near Schoenchen, KS. He enjoyed both farm work and sports, and during high school lettered in track, basketball and football. He was a good student and musician, who played piano in a dance band and organ in his parish church. His love of singing kept him in choirs and ensembles until recent years. As with many in his generation, he had to leave school to help on the farm and had to take high school and college classes as an adult. The 1930's Depression and Dustbowl caused Henry to leave, with his wife, Agnes, to live and work in Chicago where he was a machinist until the outbreak of WWII. The couple returned to Kansas in 1942, and Henry became employed at Boeing Military Aircraft. His work took him from the days of the Boeing B-17 bomber to work on the Saturn rocket and Lunar Rover to the Boeing 767. His skills at design were often in demand and he was transferred to Seattle, WA, at the Everett Plant in Quality Control for almost a year. Henry maintained a life-long interest in music. He also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and John Zimmerman, his brothers, Jacob, Carl, Fred, Celly, Seraphine, Jerry and Julius, his dear wife, Agnes Schmidt Zimmerman, and infant daughter, Mary Ann. He is survived by his brothers, Connie of Hays and Clarence of Iowa, many nieces and nephews, his daughters and their spouses, Becky and Don Racine and Patricia and John Reibenspies, all of Wichita, grandchildren, Michael, Daniel (Virginia), John and Kevin Racine, Ann Chase (Tom) and five great-grandchildren. Memorials to Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E. 21st N., Wichita, KS 67206; Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, 8101 W. Central, Wichita, KS 67212 and Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, 8506 E. Central, Wichita, KS 67206. Tributes via www.dlwichita.com