James David Zimmermann

James David Zimmermann (“Jim”), of Malone, Wisconsin and previously Wooster, Ohio, went to heaven on April 10, 2026, at the age of 72, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was born on June 13, 1953 to John H. and Sally (Guderyon) Zimmermann of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He grew up on Lower Nemahbin Lake, spending any chance he could outdoors, catching fish and hunting ducks with friends. He knew every lake in the surrounding area like the back of his hand.

Jim was a 1971 graduate of Oconomowoc High School and attended University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where he met his wife, Wendy (Larson). He graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree, and on August 9 of that year, he married Wendy, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Jim began his professional career as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor at Arthur Andersen in Milwaukee, working his way up to Senior Manager before moving on to hold finance and controller positions at Arandell Corporation. Jim then made the strategic move to the steel industry, serving as Chief Financial Officer at Steeltech in Milwaukee and later Independent Metals in Germantown. His career took him and his family to Wooster, Ohio in 1999, serving as Controller and Group CFO of the Flat Rolled Steel group with MetalsUSA, working there until his retirement in 2017.

Prior to his professional career, Jim continually reminisced about selling boats at Fox River Marina and captaining the “Belle of the Lake” on Lake Geneva for two summers during college. It was his passion for the water that brought him and Wendy to Fond du Lac and Lake Winnebago following his retirement. They spent their summers enjoying life on the lake and their winters in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Jim found his greatest joy in time spent with family and friends. He loved fishing, hunting, and golfing and never passed up a chance to play a competitive game of gin or share a good laugh. He was a longtime member of Wooster Country Club. He cherished all the family vacations with his children and his sister Ellen’s family. He was a devoted fan of Wisconsin sports, faithfully cheering on the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers through every season.

Jim had a gift for making friends wherever he went, but there were a few special friends that he kept all through his life. His family is grateful for their close friendship and support of Jim over the years.

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Fond du Lac and previously St. Mary in Wooster, Ohio and St. Paul in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. At St. Paul, he served on the Parish Council as Trustee and helped oversee the building of a new Parish Life Center.

Jim will be remembered for his sense of humor, his loyalty, and the deep care he showed for those around him. If Jim were writing this obituary himself, he would say his most important achievement was the legacy he left in his children and grandchildren. They carry on his humor, his quirky phrases and voices, and his deep devotion to family. He will be forever missed, but his spirit will live on in those who had the privilege to know and love him.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife, Wendy, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2025. He is also survived by his children: Michael (Joanna), Patrick (Rachel), Robert (Amanda), and Emily (Morgan); his sister, Ellen (Gregory Christman) Zimmermann; his niece, Jane (Zach) Christman, and nephew, Bradley Christman. He cherished time with his seven grandchildren, Wesley, Lily, AJ, Palmer, Ellis, Lawton, and Eleanor.

Jim’s family invites friends and relatives to a time of visitation and remembrance on Friday, June 12, 2026 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Fond du Lac from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM. A Memorial Mass will take place following the visitation at 11:00 AM.

The care team at SSM Health Cancer Care Center in Fond du Lac provided amazingly compassionate care during his difficult cancer journey. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation of Fond du Lac via their giving page where you can dedicate your gift in honor of Jim Zimmermann.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com