Ronald Ralph Zimmerman

Ronald Ralph Zimmerman, 87, of Cortez, Colorado

Died February 11, 2024 at Southwest Memorial Hospital

Ron was born August 8, 1936 to Ralph and Edna (Dizmang) Zimmerman in Tribune, Kansas. Ron grew up in Alamosa, Colorado where he graduated in 1954 from Alamosa High School.  He enrolled in Adams State College where he spent two years studying Chemistry.  Ron dreamed of seeing the world so he joined the Air Force.  However, as it turned out, his first 52 weeks only took him four hours from home.  He trained as a Weapons System Mechanic on the F102 Supersonic Interceptor. His first duty station was in Denver.  He then was assigned to Richers Gabor AFB in Kansas City, MO. 

Four years later, Ron returned to Alamosa and joined the Colorado State Patrol in the communications division. He quickly rose to Supervising Communications Officer and performed in this role for the next 33 years, retiring in 1996. He held leadership positions in Alamosa, Limon and Cortez, Colorado. Ron maintained strong relationships with the people he worked with and had a lot of great memories. One of the many stories he liked to tell involved a wayward traveler stranded in Limon during one of the many blizzards in the area. When told the interstate was closed, the traveler asked Ron, ‘is it closed in both directions?’ – it kept the job interesting.

Ron was a very active member of the Cortez Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Ron is survived by the love of his life, Nellie.  Nellie and Ron relocated to Cortez shortly after they married and spent 38 wonderful years here. They were very active, living life to its fullest.  Besides their love of camping and four wheeling with family and friends, they loved to travel.  They visited Alaska twice and spent winters in Arizona.  Church camp was always an especially wonderful time and provided many great memories.

His brother Bob Zimmerman of Alamosa, Colorado (Karen) was his best friend and they spoke daily.  

Ron was proud of his three children, Jeff Zimmerman of Colorado Springs, CO, Ken Zimmerman  (Brenda) of San Angelo, TX and Lori Robinson (Aaron) of Lubbock, TX.  Ron (aka Papa) was a very proud grandparent to four grandchildren – Conner (Justine) Zimmerman, Hunter (Mara) Zimmerman, Mike Robinson and Aly (Byron) Goen.

Ron was over the moon to have three beautiful Great Grandbabies – Atlas, Silas, and the newest (one week old), Bennett. He always said, it didn’t bother him being a Great Grandfather, but what really got to him was having one of his kids old enough to retire! Not possible. 

He had his favorite one and only cousin, Gloria Dizmang of Palmdale, CA.  He would never miss the chance, when Nellie’s large family got together, to remind us that he had HIS one and only cousin. 

There are also many nephews,  nieces, and great friends he leaves behind as well as his sister-in-law and husband, Howard and Lena Carman of Cortez, CO. 

Ron enjoyed being with all of his friends and family and always had a good joke to share. 

Services will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, February 16, 2024 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 540 W. Cortez, CO. A luncheon will follow at the church; All are welcome. Come share your memories. To send condolences or to view the full obituary, log on to:  www.hoodmortuary.com/obituaries/ronald-zimmerman

We all feel so very lucky to have someone in our lives who make saying ‘good-bye’ so hard.