Donald Allen Zimmerman

Obituary: Donald Allen Zimmerman, age 79, passed away from cancer on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Tucker Hospice House, Kannapolis, NC. He was known as the third baby born at the former Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, Concord, NC (now Carolinas Healthcare System- NorthEast). He was born August 4, 1937 in Cabarrus County, NC, the son of the late Claude Allen Zimmerman and Mable Wilhelm Zimmerman. Don was a 1954 graduate of the former Landis High School, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and graduated from Pfeiffer College in 1959. In his early years Don played American Legion baseball in Kannapolis and Salisbury. His first job out of college was at JC Penney for five years in Winston-Salem, NC. He started in the manager trainee program and was manager over a number of departments in the store prior to leaving. He worked for Allstate Insurance Company for 38 years starting in 1964 until his retirement in 2003. His long career began as an underwriter and then he became an agent. He worked out of the Sears Catalog stores in Kannapolis and Concord until Carolina Mall opened. He was in the Sears store until he moved out into his own agency, Don Zimmerman Agency in Concord. He was one of the top insurance agents in the country and known as a "30 year life millionaire." He was one of the top insurance agents to receive the Life Wall of Fame in 1993 that is displayed in the Allstate Headquarters in Northbrook, IL. He earned many awards for top sales in all areas of insurance and earned trips that took he and Anna throughout the United States and abroad. He collected antiques and loved to go to auction sales. He and Anna owned and operated The Country Corner Gift Shop and Antiques between the years 1970 to 1978. He was an active member of Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith, Faith, NC where he had served as an usher, prior member of the Consistory, Finance Committee, Property Committee, and the Men's Bible Class. Don grew up in the First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, NC where he had also served as an usher and deacon. Among his many other interests included being a charter member of the Cabarrus Rotary Club where he was a two-time recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship; a charter member of the South Rowan YMCA Service Club; a previous member of the Rowan County YMCA Board; a former member of the John R. Mott Y's Mens Club in Kannapolis; and the former Kannapolis Optimist Club. Don found time to enjoy small game hunting, fishing, and sleeping in his deer box stand. He and Anna loved going to their homes on Lake Norman and at Windy Hill Beach. He loved to travel; taking care of his yard; wood cutting; and growing vegetables in his garden. A special love was eating country ham at Shatley Springs and as well as fish at Calabash. The funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith, Faith, NC officiated by Rev. Richard Myers. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Whitley's Funeral Home, Kannapolis, NC and again the next day at the church from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM prior to the service. Survivors include his wife of over 60 years, Anna Roseman Zimmerman; two sons, Ronnie G. Zimmerman & wife, Brenda of Gastonia, NC and Michael A. Zimmerman of Salisbury, NC. Memorials may be made to Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith, 100 S. Main Street, Faith, NC. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 6-8:00 PM, Tuesday December 20, 2016 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel.

Service: 3:00 PM, Wednesday December 21, 2016 Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith Faith, North Carolina

Interment: In the Church Cemetery.