Otto Zimmerman

Otto Ernest Zimmerman, age 94, of St. Vincent, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024. He was born Monday, April 7, 1930, in St. Vincent, Arkansas, the ninth child of Charley Zimmerman and Mary Gottsponer Zimmerman. He was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church, served in the United States Army, and was a Knights of Columbus 4th degree member. He was drafted into the US Army in 1952. He served honorably in the Korean War and Vietnam War. Over his long military career, he was stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia, Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, Hot Springs, Arkansas, El Paso, Texas, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Carson, Colorado, and two tours totaling six years in Germany. Otto served 22 years in the Army and retired in 1974 as a First Sergeant and returned to St. Vincent. He was a VFW member for 35 years and served as Commander of Post 10027. He joined the Knights of Columbus in El Paso, Texas in 1962. After retiring from the Army, he transferred his membership to Council 5209 in Morrilton. Otto served as the Grand Knight of this council from 1978 to 1980. He was the first Faithful Navigator of the Father William Beck Assembly 4th degree Knights of Columbus in Morrilton. He was an active member of the St. Mary Catholic Church. He served as President of the Parish Council and was a member of the parish Finance Committee. He was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers of the church under Father John Kettler. He joined the Conway County Mounted Patrol in 1976. He voluntarily spent many hours around the county as a security guard at high school ball games, bazaars, dances, Museum of Automobiles annual show, the Rockefeller 4th of July fireworks celebration, and many other community activities. He transported prisoners to and from state prisons. He served on the St. Anthony Hospital County Board and Sacred Heart School Board. He was instrumental in establishing the St. Vincent Fire Department in 1977 and was the first Fire Chief. His hobbies included horseback riding, raising horses and cattle, and watching old Westerns on TV. Unless you had a lot of time to spend, don’t get him started on his favorite topic of conversation: politics. During his Army days, he spent many days touring Europe in a classic VW bus with his family of 6. He had a lifelong love of St. Vincent and could drive the dirt roads and tell you who used to own this property and that home place all the way back to when he was a boy in the 1930s. He was a devoted fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and St. Louis Cardinals. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Patricia Ann Clifton Zimmerman of St. Vincent; his daughter, Suzanne (Jim) Hartman of St. Vincent; and his sons, Ronald Zimmerman of Little Rock, Kenneth (Jane) Zimmerman of North Little Rock, and Matthew Zimmerman of Fayetteville; grandchildren, Randall (Jennifer) Hartman, Adam (Kelsey) Zimmerman, Deanna (Brandon) Wicker, Mitch (Olivia) Zimmerman, Nick (Hollyn) Zimmerman, and Ben (Taylor) Zimmerman; great-grandchildren, Emma Hartman, Evan Hartman, James Wicker, Lila Zimmerman, Kyle Wicker, and Kennedy Zimmerman. He is also survived by his sister, Martha Alvey and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandchild, Alexander Zimmerman; and beloved siblings, Clementine Beck, Theresa Perin, Emma Linneman, Alfred Zimmerman, William Zimmerman, Emil Zimmerman, Marie Noll, Carl Zimmerman, and Lucille Zimmerman. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 10, at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Jack Harris and Deacon Steve Mallett officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. The Vigil Service will be 6:00 p.m. Monday, with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Church, St. Vincent.

Otto Zimmerman

April 7, 1930 - September 5, 2024