James Austin Zimmerman

Our beloved son, James Austin Zimmerman, 22 years old, of Fort Collins, Colorado went to be with his Lord on May 22, 2019 while at home. James was welcomed into the world January 8, 1997 in Loveland, Colorado by his parents, Jeffrey and Jackie (Sylvester) Zimmerman along with his sister, Nicole, and his brother, Brett. James attended Heritage Christian Preschool, Kruse Elementary School, Boltz Middle School, Fort Collins High School, and Front Range Community College. He was a parishioner of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church. One of his father's loving memories of James is of him receiving the holy sacraments of baptism, First Holy Communion, and confirmation.

As a child, James easily made friends wherever he went. He often travelled with his family to out of town sporting events for Nicole and Brett. He made friends with the younger siblings of the other athletes no matter what team they were with. James was a fantastic athlete, excelling at almost everything he tried. Over the years, he swam for a local swim team, was on the Boltz Middle School track team, and he played baseball, soccer, basketball, and tennis. When he played Arsenal soccer, an official was amazed that James took the ball down the left side of the field parallel to the net, kicked the ball with his left foot and bent it in for a goal. His coach joked, James if you ever get the ball, don't pass it, just take it all the way in yourself. While playing baseball, he stole home from 3rd base before the pitch crossed home plate. He lettered in tennis at Fort Collins High School and attended the state tennis tournament two years.

James had an incredible thirst for knowledge with a wide variety of interests including geography, environmental science, and world events. After high school, running was an activity that he enjoyed immensely. One of his favorite runs was to, and through the Environmental Learning Center where he could feel at peace. This was something he shared with his Mom, and she started walking there as well for the serenity. It gives her comfort now to know that he will be there with her whenever she takes a walk.

James was a caring, old soul whose witty sense of humor led to his love of Monty Python, the Marx Brothers, the Three Stooges, Oliver and Hardy and the movie, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." He would make us laugh by imitating a silly walk from Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks or dancing to the song "Shine on Harvest Moon" like Stan Laurel in the 1939 film, "Flying Deuces." A favorite memory for Brett was how James would come downstairs and quote lines from his favorite movies, such as Jim Backus saying, 'I'll have an old fashioned" from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Word.". One Christmas James asked for a plastic two foot grinning humpty dumpty sitting on a wall statue. It was meant to be put out in the yard, but James used it to make us smile and laugh. He put it on the couch and when we would come down in the morning, it would be wearing a different hat every day until James finally decided on the right one. That was our James, always wanting to make other people happy.

James loved classic rock and technology, but at the same time longed for a simpler world. Nicole and her husband, Aaron, have a special memory in their hearts of James playing with a soccer ball or baseball with their son, Magnus. That is what meant the most to them. He was such an amazing uncle, and watching James and Magnus play together always made them so happy because that's when James was the happiest.

When James passed, a bright, flickering flame in our lives was extinguished. We will love and miss him dearly until we meet again.
James was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur and Catherine Zimmerman, and Howard and Anne Sylvester. He is survived by his parents, Jeffrey and Jackie Zimmerman, his sister, Nicole (Aaron) Landgren, his brother, Brett Zimmerman, his aunts, Marilyn (Lane) Williams, Sheryl (Bill) Dexter, Shelly Selesky, and Marylou (Borden) Mills, his uncles, Scott Sylvester, Eric (Caterina) Zimmerman, Mark Zimmerman, Craig (Carma) Zimmerman, Gary Zimmerman, Doug (Pam) Zimmerman, Jon Zimmerman, Lance (Trish) Zimmerman, his nephew Magnus Landgren, his nephew Rasmus Landgren who is expected to be born June 8, 2019, numerous cousins, and special buddies, miniature dachshunds, Schatzi and Suzie.