Ernest Zimpfer

ERNEST ZIMPFER

Walker

Ernest "Ernie" Raymond Zimpfer, 92, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 16, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 20, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point. Funeral services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, at Troy Mills Christian Church conducted by Pastor Don McGarvey. Burial with military honors: Troy Mills Cemetery, Troy Mills.

Ernie was born Sept. 26, 1923, at the Zimpfer homestead in Walker, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II. On Jan. 16, 1951, he married Ardys Nadine Powell and together they raised four daughters. Ernie and Ardie were founding members of Noelridge Park Christian Church in Cedar Rapids.

Ernie had a successful career in the insurance business, working in sales as a chartered life underwriter with Farm Bureau and as an executive with Life Investors in Cedar Rapids that eventually took him to Littleton, Colo. In the mid-1980s, he started his own company, Zimpfer Financial Services, which he operated until his retirement.

Ernie thrived on adventure and new experiences. In 1989-91, he and his wife, Ardie, served their country as Peace Corps volunteers in Tanzania, East Africa. After returning to the United States, they spent several years in Washington, D.C., as managers of the International Student House until they returned to Breckenridge, Colo., where they participated in the Over the Hill Skiing Club and were active members of Father Dyer Methodist Church.

After Ardie passed away in 2002, Ernie married Carol Jean (Buckner) Burns of Marion, Iowa, on Sept. 9, 2005. They enjoyed golfing, fishing and traveling, splitting their time between Walker and Punta Gorda, Fla.

Those who knew Ernie were blessed by his presence. He will be sorely missed.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; four daughters and their spouses, Cynthia Zimpfer of Parker, Colo., Lisa and Paul Koch of Parker, Colo., Amy Zimpfer and Harold Ball of Mill Valley, Calif., and Polly and Robert Blank of Carthage, N.Y.; four stepdaughters and one stepson and their spouses, Patricia and Wayne Webster of Walker, Richard and Judy Burns of Marion, Jody and Steve Bursovsky of Alburnett, Polly and David Wood of Alburnett and Sarah and Paul Buob of Chillicothe, Ill.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Ardys Nadine Powell Zimpfer; his parents, Raymond and Annabel Zimpfer; and his siblings, Lucille Cunningham, Vivian Fay and Forest Zimpfer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in Ernie's name to any of the following: Arbor Tree Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410; Hospice of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center Foundation, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; or Troy Mills Christian Church Building Fund, 3257 Wieckham St., Troy Mills, IA 52344.

Please share a memory of Ernest at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.