John F. "Jack" Zimmer

John F. "Jack" Zimmer, 88, died Friday, October 19, 2018 at McKenna Crossing, Prior Lake, MN under hospice care. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am Saturday, October 27, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Montrose with burial in the church cemetery. John (Jack) Francis Zimmer was born on July 3, 1930 to Lawrence and Iva (McAndrews) Zimmer. He grew up in the Humboldt and Montrose area, attended school at Humboldt and graduated from South Dakota State University. He taught physics and chemistry in Watertown, he also taught and coached basketball and track at Hosmer and DeSmet. He received his PhD at the University of Minnesota and became Director of Research, Office of Chancellor at the university. He was a consultant for Education Management Services working with schools nationwide then started Zimmer and Associates doing the same work. He was a member of the Pax Christie Catholic Church, Eden Prairie, MN. Jack’s passion was baseball as a pitcher and a hitter. He was inducted into the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. He played with area teams and went to the state tourney eight times. His career amateur batting average was .450. He was the cleanup batter for SDSU all four years and named MVP of the year in 1953. Jack played the piano from an early age. He entertained many with ragtime to classical music, even playing while he was in assisted living. He also enjoyed competition ballroom dancing. Grateful for sharing is life are nephews, Larry and wife Connie, Montrose and children Stacy (Josh) Oltmanns, Andrew (Carissa), and Susie (Andy) Ryks; James “Jim” Jones and wife Lori, Parker and children Lindsey and Lauren; Richard Jones and wife Christine, Sioux Falls and children Tyler, Amanda, Tom, Dylan, Derek, McKenzie, Matt and Will. He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Eloise M. Jones, two brothers, Richard “Dick” and Robert “Bob” and a nephew, Michael.