Anita Elizabeth Zimmerman

Anita Elizabeth (Hayes) Zimmerman was born on January 18, 1934 in Nisula Michigan to Edward (Buck) and Sigrid Hayes. Anita was the youngest of four children.

After graduating from high school, Anita served her country in the Air Force, with basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and then stationed at Scott, Air Force Base, Illinois.

More than anything. Anita loved her seven children, and somehow managed to make each one of them feel like the favorite!

Always looking for adventure and challenges she and daughter, Marilyn drove through the Canadian Rockies on the Alcan Highway for 11 days, finally arriving in Anchorage Alaska, where she worked as a nurse at the Alaska native Medical Center. It was there. She met the love of her life – Tom and Zimmerman.  Anita and Tom were married in 1986.

Although her illness prevented her from doing many things easily, she still did everything she wanted. As she always said, “it just takes a little longer. Things like fishing in Alaska, flower gardening wherever they were living, and any type of games, cards, dominoes, etc. with family and friends. Anita also loved books and writing letters, often, to everyone she knew, and had done so all her life.

Anita was predeceased by husband, Tom, brothers, Richard Hayes, and John Hayes, sister, Beatrice, (Joan) Lepola, son, Steven Johnson, and daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Lindberg.  She is survived by her daughters, a Debora O’Toole, Marilyn (Wayne) Swann, Barbara (Tim) Flahive, Karen (Dave) Walden, and Janet (Bob)Petersen, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for both Anita and her late husband Tom on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ontonagon, Michigan at 3:00pm.

Cane Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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