Janice "Ruth" Zimmer

Janice "Ruth" (Bakker) Zimmer, a devoted wife and mother went to meet Jesus and be reunited with family and friends in Heaven on Saturday, November 9, 2017. Ruth was seventy-seven years old and a long-time resident of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Ruth is survived by her husband of 56 years, Charles Zimmer; her daughter Lois and husband Hank Maynard of Richmond, KY; her son Joel and wife Angie Zimmer of Broken Arrow, OK; her son Brian Zimmer of Broken Arrow, OK her daughter Sara Zimmer of Broken Arrow, OK; her five grandchildren: Jeremy Maynard, Teresa Maynard Schumann, Alicia Maynard Rooney, Nathan Zimmer and Matthew Zimmer; her two sisters: Sharon Bandstra, and Carol Vreeke; her brother, John Bakker; and many close family and friends. Ruth was the second of four children. She was born in an old farmhouse in Pella, Iowa on March 17, 1942 to Frank and Pearl (Rus) Bakker. Her childhood included picking on her sisters, playing dress-up and baseball with her cousins, caring for her baby brother, babysitting, and playing the piano at church. She graduated from Grand Rapids Michigan Christian High School, Reformed Bible Institute, and in later years she completed Rhema Bible Training Center. She married Charles Zimmer on August 8, 1963 in Pella, Iowa, and together they had 4 children. She was a devoted mother who had a heart's desire to raise healthy children. She would often say, "now after you feed them, you need to get on the floor and play with them for a while." She loved God and attending church. She spent many hours reading her Bible and had a list of people that she prayed for daily. Ruth was always so full of joy! She was very friendly, and never met a stranger. She loved to laugh with a cute little giggle, entertain, and she made sure that she was always there for everyone. She wanted to help and encourage others because she always saw them as more important than herself. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Kingdom Rain International Ministries, 5124 South 95th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74145. Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilycares.com. The family of Ruth Zimmer entrusted her care and cremation to Brown Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, 918-486-5515.