Julius Zimmer

ZIMMER, Julius Fredrick Born January 11, 1927 – November 10, 2024. Aged 97 years.

Julius Fredrick Zimmer was born to Edward and Clara (nee Rosenow) Zimmer in the RM of Boulton, MB on January 11, 1927, the fifth of seven children. When he was almost two years old, his mother gave birth to twins and subsequently died from complications at the age of 25. Seven children were a lot for one man, and as such, most of the children were sent to live with relatives. Julius and Clara went to the Liskes until the age of 14, when he moved home to help his father with the farm. As teenagers, he and cousin Johnny Zimmer spent a winter logging in BC. When he was 22, his father died in his arms, likely due to Tuberculosis at the age of 58.

The following year, on October 21, 1950, Julius married Ruth Marion Elizabeth Mohr. They moved to Inglis and started their family. On August 25, 1951, Wayne Douglas Edward was born. On November 2, 1953, another son, Dean-Alan Frederick, came along. They were blessed on May 19, 1958 with their third son, Grant Alexander. Julius would cut lumber and get it sawed by Perchaluk’s mill and then would come home every weekend by horse and sleigh. He became a councilor in Boulton Municipality and built many of roads in the area. Julius also would cut the neighbor’s kids hair in Inglis.

In the summer of 1963, they moved to Shortdale, where they ran the highway store. As Shortdale was predominantly Ukrainian, Julius made the effort of learning the language enough to talk with those coming into the store. There was no closing time as long as there were customers in the store, other than Saturday when they would go to town for supper and church on Sunday. He was an avid baseball fan and played actively as a young man at Gilbert School and surrounding communities.

Ruth wanted a daughter and always talked to the boys about saving up enough money to adopt and on December 28, 1967, they drove to Winnipeg to add 8-month-old Shaunna-Lee Lisa to their family. Julius always worked hard and along with the store, he would weld till late at night fixing machinery for people. He sold car and tractor tires as well. He started up auctioneering in the late 1960’s with Mike Garlinski from Ashville, taking beer bottles from the store to the depot in Winnipeg and then buying things like appliances and carpet to bring back to auction off at the old furniture store across from the Roblin theatre. He also auctioned with Andy Kaye in Winnipeg on the weekends.

After 13 years in Shortdale, the family moved into Roblin in October of 1976 where they lived across from the elementary school. In the summer of 1978, they purchased the Shevlin farm from Louie Burrell, where Julius lived up to his death. The public auctions became a family affair and every spring and fall, they hosted the sales at the farm, with Julius and Wayne auctioneering, Dean-Alan as clerk, Frank Menzul as cashier, Ruth making sure everyone had a coffee while ensuring the yard was free of cigarette butts and garbage and Denise, Darlene and granddaughters working the concession. Hard work and the value of a dollar was instilled in us at an early age. He once again became active with council for many years with the RM of Hillsburg.

That farm and the two people there was the hub that kept the family together. Grandchildren were dropped off daily, where Ruth and Julius taught them respect, discipline and made sure they knew they were loved, even when “Charlie Brown” made an appearance. Revels and fudgesicles were always shared during the summer, and fishing or catching crayfish at the bridge and playing with cousins were a normal part of growing up at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. All get togethers were at that farm.

Music was a large part of Julius’ life. He could play the guitar, accordion and mouth organ. You could always count on him pulling out an instrument when visitors arrived and singing a few songs for them.

Julius found farm machinery through auctions and the people he knew and sold and shipped it to Mexico. He worked with Johnny Prokopowich with small motors. Julius built numerous pony carts and drove his ponies in parades every year, up till he was 95 years old. He was so proud of Trigger and how he would “shake a paw”.

When Ruth’s health started failing, Julius never wavered in his care for her, and in 2016, she was moved into Crocus Court Personal Care. That did not stop Julius, and every single day for four years, he spent the day and evening with Ruth, holding her hand, making her eat and simply being there. Employees told family members that they had never seen someone so devoted to visiting his wife. On March 31, 2020, after almost 70 years of marriage, Ruth passed away with family at her side. His devotion continued every evening, when he would drive to the cemetery to spend time at her gravesite.

Julius was very independent and kept active by taking care of his ponies, Cookie and Trigger, and his cats. If you drove by the farm, you might see him fixing fence, cutting grass, splitting wood or driving down the road cutting ditch hay and forking it up by hand to take back to the barn.

Julius loved playing pool and for many years, he and Andy Warbeck would go to the 50 and Over Club. In the winter months, they could be found ice fishing at Lake of the Prairies. This passion of fishing, as well as hunting, was shared with his grandsons and great-grandchildren whenever they would come out to visit. We are not sure how he did it, but he always caught the biggest fish. He also loved cards, whether it was 3 to 13, Whist or Crib. Every evening, he played with family, and more often than not, he would win.

Julius attended church almost every Sunday and could be found reading the Bible or the hymnal at home. The last few years were lonelier for Julius as the people he knew and grew up with passed on. Many times, he would say, “Why won’t the good Lord just put me down in the ground with her?” This was especially true after his son Wayne’s passing on June 9, 2024.

His wish of never having to leave the farm was fulfilled and sadly, on Sunday morning, November 10, 2024, Julius was found at home deceased. At age 97 years and 10 months, Julius is the oldest living male Zimmer in our recorded history, as far back as the mid-1700’s. Our loss is the good Lord’s gain.

Together with Ruth, Julius had four children, 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Clara Zimmer, brothers Robert Zimmer, Lawrence Zimmer and Bert Zimmer, sisters Alvina Quick, Wilma Wagner and Clara Mohr, son Wayne Zimmer and granddaughter Autumn Zimmer.

Left to mourn are sons Dean-Alan (Adrienne Joynson) Zimmer and Grant Zimmer, daughter Shaunna-Lee Johansen, daughter-in-law Denise Zimmer, grandchildren Candice (Jun) Infantado, Cory (Bobbi-Jo) Zimmer, Deana (Curt Medveszek) Haas, Quentin Zimmer, Faye (Chad) Jones, Ecko Zimmer, Jolene (Kolby Chan) Zimmer, Logan Zimmer, Mackenzie Zimmer and Connor Johansen as well as their families.

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