Zimmerman, Mark Alan
Mark Alan Zimmerman – gearhead, health nut, laborer, veteran, exercise fanatic, and perpetual wonderer- died unexpectedly on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at the age of 73. With his passing, the world lost one of its greatest characters.
Mark was born September 29, 1952 on his Dad’s birthday. He grew up in Swartz Creek, the oldest of four brothers: Scott, Tom, and Chris. They lived on a large property and were summoned home by their mother each night by the family bell. Mark fully occupied the garage, where he spent his time taking apart and putting together cars of all types, welding engines on wheeled objects, and extracting labor from his brothers in exchange for spare parts or black label beer.
When being drafted was imminent during the Vietnam War, Mark enlisted in the Navy. He primarily served his country by serving in the kitchen. He knew everybody, got into all kinds of trouble, and once got left behind on shore because he was hungover.
He always loved cars and speed. After serving in the Navy, he pursued drag racing. He raced a ’61 Corvette and later a ’73 Vega. He was once points leader at the Central Michigan Dragway.
Mark married Sandy Alexander in 1976 and they built a family together. Mark’s greatest pride were his kids: Jason, Jeff, and Jana. He loved them the way he knew how, which wasn’t always what they deserved. Mark and Sandy divorced in 1987.
Mark then bounced around Flint, Westland, Romulus. Mark spent his entire career as a laborer for General Motors. He took an early retirement and left GM in 2007 after 36 years.
He moved to North Carolina, but then returned to Michigan to take care of his elderly mother with his partner, Deborah Moores. After his Mom died, he and Deb moved down to Tennessee and made a life in Hohenwald. Mark worked as a driver for Buffalo Valley, a local rehab center, and he was a great believer in the cause of recovery.
Mark was a man of simple pleasures, and not-so-simple ones. He loved his children and his grandchildren and dearly loved his own life. He had cheated death countless times and wanted to live forever. At some level, we sort of expected him to. He was preceded in death by his son Jason and his wife Candice (Buffa) Zimmerman. He is survived by his children Jeff and Jana; his grandchildren Lilliana, Louis, and Ada; and many others whose lives he touched with a smile. He also left behind a bag of avocados that will need to be eaten in the next few days.
Mark was laid to rest at Larkspur Conservation at Westmoreland, Tennessee, beside his son, Jason, per his wishes to be “planted green.”
To honor Mark: contact Jeff.zimmerman@gmail.com or jana.zimmerman@gmail.com with memories to share; donate to Larkspur Conservation; or get yourself to a meeting if you know what that means.
