John Zimmerman, 88, of Ridley Park, passed away November 19, 2019 with his family by his side. Born in Girard Estates, South Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Charles Caspar and Ann McLaughlin Zimmerman.

John was a student at St James High School in Chester PA, and until recently attended annual reunions of his classmates. He was later educated at Villanova University prior to serving for two years in the U.S. Navy, notably on the USS Rizzi, a destroyer escort. He went on to pursue a career in the steel industry until his retirement in his late 'Seventies from leading Philadelphia mechanical contractor Herman Goldner Co.

The two pillars of John's life were his family and his church. For more than 60 years, he was an active member of the Church of St. Madeline, where he found great comfort in attending Mass weekly and giving service to the community through his voluntary work.

John was never happier than in the company of his family, and his always gracious home was a magnet for the fun-filled holiday and seasonal gatherings that welcomed his children's friends, his relatives and his neighbors.

John was the beloved husband of the late Joan (nee Dougherty) who was a nurse and anchor of the Taylor Hospital community, and the devoted father of five children, eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

John was deeply loved by his children and their families, and they in turn were always at the center of his daily life. Devoted to their father were Ellen Hamilton and her husband Peter of Brooklyn NY; Charles Zimmerman and his wife Michele of Springfield PA; Patrick Zimmerman and his wife Diane of Ridley Park PA; the late Dorothy Zimmerman who was always in John's prayers after her passing; and Dr Karl Zimmerman and his wife Michele of West Chester PA.

Constant in their love and attention were his grandchildren James Hamilton, living in Stockholm, Sweden with his wife Malin Heyman and their children Malkolm and Margot; Grace Hamilton of Manhattan NY; Megan Zimmerman and Christopher Zimmerman who are students at Bucknell University; Patrick and Becca Zimmerman of Pittsburgh, and Matthew Zimmerman of Fishtown; Marc Zimmerman and Stefan Zimmerman of West Chester, Carolina Zimmerman of Washington DC, who like her late grandmother Joan is a practicing RN dedicated to emergency care; and Olivia and Lily Holman who live at home with Dr Karl and Michele in West Chester.

John's memory will be forever cherished by his brother Charles Zimmerman and his wife Beatrice of Downingtown PA and their family, and also by the family of his dear late sister Mary Cunnion and her late husband Robert, by Joan's Dougherty family, and all of his extended family.

Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the Church of St. Madeline, 400 Morton Ave., Ridley Park, PA 19078, where relatives and friends may call from 9:00-10:45 AM.

Burial: SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery

Memorial gifts may be made to the above church, "Keep Cool" Fund.