Gerd Thomsen Zimmermann, 79, passed away Monday, February 13, 2023, at his home in Bancroft, ID.

He was born January 25, 1944 at Berlin, Germany, the son of Kurt and Margarethe Thomsen Hartwig.  His parents divorced and his mother later married Karl G Zimmermann.  He was later adopted by Karl, and changed his name to Zimmermann.

When Gerd was ten years old, his mother, father, and little brother immigrated to Salt Lake City, UT.   He had wonderful stories of his journey on a ship crossing the Atlantic, a fearsome storm at sea, and his first taste of French fries  and Juicy Fruit gum.

He  graduated from East High School and attended Salt  Lake Technical College,  where he studied drafting.   He inherited his maternal grandfather's talent for engineering and design, and found his first job working as a draftsman for the Eimco Corporation in Salt Lake.  A few years later, he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  to Austria.  Following his missionary service, he returned to Eimco where he worked for several years.  Later, he worked for Bingham Mechanical and Diversified Engineering in Idaho,  Kennecott Copper, American Standard, and for JJ Design Group where he was engaged in the steel  design and quality control for several high profile projects including the Stratosphere Tower,  Nevada Landing in Las Vegas, the skylights and hourglass stairway in the San Diego, CA LDS temple, and numerous other construction, mining, processing , and civil projects.  He gained a professional reputation for exactness and skill, and his work was sought after.

After retirement, he served on the Rigby, ID city council.  His favorite job, and a great joy, was helping Santa Claus.  He loved people, especially little children.

He married Mary Jane Pearce  in 1968.  They are the parents of five children, 15 grandchildren,

and four great grandchildren.

Gerd is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; daughter, Heidi (Byron) Hood; daughter, Julie (Robert) Anderson;  son, Christopher (Baerbel)  Zimmermann; son, Steven Zimmermann (Chelsea) ;  sister, Karen Petersen;  brother, Ralph Zimmermann  (Mary);  sister, Elvira Buksa (Peter);  15 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Liesel Barber  (Jay) .

A memorial service will be held February 25, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Bancroft LDS church, 355 South Main, Bancroft, ID.