Gary Leon Zimmerman, son of the late Basil Zimmerman and Vera Juanita Inman Schoolcraft, was born on January 6, 1956, in San Marcos, Texas, and departed this life on November 1, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 65 years. He was a resident of Puxico, Missouri.
Gary was a Veteran of the United States Air Force, stationed in Japan for 6 years. There he worked on military communications infrastructure. After his military service, he began a career in telecommunications, working his way up from lineman to a telecommunications executive with Southwestern Bell and AT&T.
In November 1995, Gary and two other individuals founded the pioneering internet company Savvis, Inc. based in St. Louis, Missouri. Gary built out the national network as head of engineering, which at the time was unique and revolutionary to the industry. Savvis grew to be one of the nation’s primary internet service providers, with 2,440 employees and sold to CenturyLink in 2011 for over $2.5 billion.
Gary concluded his telecommunications career with Verizon and retired to his farm near Puxico, Missouri to be with his daughter and grandchildren.
On August 22, 1980, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was united in marriage to Susan Lynan Nance. Gary loved and cared for others deeply and this was displayed by his years of love and personal care of Lynan in their home as she suffered through the final stages of early on-set Alzheimer's. Mrs. Zimmerman preceded him in death on December 19, 2016.
Gary selflessly devoted himself to his family and friends. There has never been a greater Papaw and if you ever had the pleasure of meeting him you called him friend.
He is survived by his daughter, Jen Oliver and husband Russ of Puxico, Missouri; by his son, Bryan Sink of Puxico, Missouri; by his sister, Jeanie King of Ash, North Carolina; and by three grandchildren, Emma, Jackson, and Chloe.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, November 8, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
A memorial service will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Russ Oliver officiating.
Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
