Jan. 13, 1944 March 8, 2024
Thomas Anthony Zimmer, 80, of Longview was born on Jan. 13, 1944 in Rochester, NY to Joseph and Gertrude Zimmer Sillato; stepfather Arthur Sillato. He passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024 at his home surrounded by family.
Mr. Zimmer grew up in the Catholic Church. He proudly served in the US Army during Vietnam and with the Air Force as a Sgt. Drill instructor. He loved his country, was an avid reader, history buff, shop Steward and a member of the Teamsters Union for 27 years at Genesee Brewery in Rochester, NY.
Mr. Zimmer was a paradigm of a hard worker! Dad had a great sense of humor, always cracking a joke, had a great laugh and found humor in most situations.
He was a volunteer at Longview Regional for many years. He absolutely was an animal lover; rescued many animals from shelters.
A loving father, grandfather and great grandfather, Mr. Zimmer was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife, Ellen Zimmer and one sister, Jean Nicodemus and one brother, Richard Zimmer, both of NY.
He is survived by his children, Melissa Smeal (Greg) of Rochester, NY, Tara Vaughn (Darrell) of Corinth, TX, Eric Wulbrecht (Tammy) of Longview, TX, Eric Zimmer (Jill) of Bossier City, LA; grandchildren, Brian, Kara, Jordan, Thomas, Samantha, Steven, Isaiah, Savannah, Grant, Isabella, Ava; great grandchildren, Marlee, Ashton, Mary, Maci, Lennon, Sloan, Maddox, Avery, Indi; sisters, Elenor Sims (Dad’s twin) of Rochester, NY, Sharon (Phillip) Beaudoin of Natchitoches, LA, Toni (Neil) Bennett of Natchitoches, LA, Jan (James) Herbert of Dickenson, TX, Bonnie (Stephen) Rynick of Mandeville, LA, Judy (Marvin) Davis of Natchitoches, LA, Christine Sillato of Rochester, NY; brothers, Gerald (Trudy) Zimmer of Webster, NY, Larry (Partricia) of Hilton, NY, Ronald (Cheryl) Sillato of Rochester, NY, Frank Sillato of Rochester, NY as well as countless nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life, to honor our father, will be planned at a later date. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Horn-Nail-Haggard Funeral Home in Daingerfield. His legend will live on through the countless memories we have all collected: he has left an imprint on our hearts that we will cherish forever.