Kirk Alan Zimmerman

My name is Kirk Alan Zimmerman and I was born July 18, 1972 in the Heller Memorial Hospital. I live on County Road P., in Harrison Township, with my mother and father, Beulah and Ralph Zimmerman, Jr. Mom calls me her "little trailer" because I came along a long time after my brother and sister.

My brother, Dennis Lyle Zimmerman, was born September 2, 1953, and graduated from Napoleon High School, and Cincinnati U., as an Electrical Engineer. He works in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

My sister, Lila June Zimmerman, was born December 16, 1955. She graduated from Napoleon High School and Palm Beach Junior College, and works for a dentist in Lake Worth, Florida as a dental assistant.

My mom, born July 2, 1933, does ladies things, like going to guild at church and hospital auxiliary, and takes care of my Dad and me. Dad, born May 4, 1928, is a carpenter, and works with my grandpa Ralph everyday.

We all go to St. John's United Church of Christ on State Route 108. Both Mom and Dad sing in the choir.

I go to C. D. Brillhart School. I went to Hope School for two years because I have a physical handicap. I wear braces, but they only slow me a little.

My dad has one brother, Uncle Phil Zimmerman. He was born on September 25, 1938 and is a pulmonary internist and doctor in Rockford, Illinois. He graduated from Ohio University and Harvard Medical School. His wife, Susan Boyer Zimmerman is a nurse. They have two children: Katherine, born 1972, and John, born 1975. We have lots of fun whenever we get together.

My mom has a half sister, Elizabeth Ludeman. Liz lived with us for some time. She graduated from Napoleon High School, and Kent State University, and works for the Allen County Juvenile Department.

This year Mom and Dad are celebrating their 25th anniversary, and Grandpa and Grandma, Ralph and Martha Rettig Zimmerman, celebrated their 50th anniversary. They live in Holgate. Grandpa, born June 25, 1902, and Grandma, born December 9, 1902, keep busy. Grandpa works with Dad everyday, and they enjoy their winter home in Lake Worth, Florida.

Then there is "Uncle Pete" Ludeman. My mother says that's her stepfather, whatever that is. He was married to Grandma Dorothy Rettig, but I never met her or my Grandfather, Leo Yenour. He has a wife living yet that we sometimes see, and her name is Beulah also.

I've got lots of great uncles, aunts and cousins that come to visit. Mom grew up at her grandpa's, E.M. (Mell) and Clara Franz Rettig, farm near Florida, Ohio. So all her aunts and uncles are more like brothers and sisters. There is Aunt Carmen and Uncle Elmer Brinkman from Pleasant Bend; Aunt Leota Sickmiller from Napoleon; Uncle Rudy and Aunt Lorena Miller Rettig from Napoleon; Uncle Dick and Aunt Madge and cousin Linda Nartker from near Florida; Uncle Clifford Rettig comes from Ecorse, Michigan. He calls me a "little bum" and I call him "a big bum".

When Dad was a boy in Holgate, his grandpa and grandma, J.W. (Will) and Katie Armbruster Rettig lived with them. So we visit with those uncles and aunts, too: Mrs. W.G. (Maggie Huber) Rettig from Holgate; Mrs. Charles (Rosanna Honeck) Graham from Napoleon; Mrs. Ed (Tillie) Orthwein from near Malinta; and, of course, Walter and Mary (Manchester) from Washington Courthouse, Ohio.

There are other aunts and uncles in Crawford County, Ohio. These are Grandpa Ralph's family: Mrs. Ed Alma) Gieber, Mrs. Clyde (Lillian Yaussey) Zimmerman, and Willis and Helen (Lemon) Zimmerman. His folks were George and Emma Brown Zimmerman.

That is about enough for a five year old to remember, and besides it's my bedtime. So, good night, and pleasant reading.