Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE FAMILY of Francis Fritz Zimmer participated in the dedication of the Ontonagon Recreation Trail to the memory of the longtime teacher. From left are Jane Zimmer Muscolt and her husband, George, of Harrison; nephew Mike Zimmer, Ontonagon and Kris Zimmer Martin and her husband, Willard.
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon - An ongoing trail improvement project at the Ontonagon Area School was dedicated Tuesday to a teacher whose career spanned 30 years of the district.
Francis Fritz Zimmer taught biological sciences in the district from 1953-83. That period spanned the time the district went from Ontonagon to later include Greenland Township and Rockland.
When the new school was built, Zimmer celebrated Earth Day by having students plant trees in an area adjacent to the school, now a hiking trail.
Ken Raisanen, science teacher at the school, said the trail has had several new births. It fell into disrepair and in the late 1970s was vandalized.
In 1983, Stone Forest Industries helped with some revisions and Fritz had students plant those trees.
With the formation of a Senior Service Class at the school, interest rose in fixing up the trail. Raisanen said a $2,500 grant from the Portage Health Foundation assistance from the village of Ontonagon, students and local businesses revitalized the trail project.
Raisanen told those gathered for dedication of the trail Tuesday morning that the improvements are "the beginning of an ongoing community service project." He said he and the students agreed dedicating the trail to Fritz Zimmer was "the perfect way to connect more than a half century of the Ontonagon Area School's history together."
Raisanen said Zimmer was at the school when the transition from the old school to the new high school took place. In addition to serving the school district throughout the years, Zimmer served his nation in World War II and was a prisoner of war.
Present for the dedication was Francis and Ann Zimmer's children - Kris Zimmer Martin and her husband, Willard, and Jane Zimmer Muscolt and her husband, George.
Also in attendance was nephew Mike Zimmer.
Raisanen said the "name and image (of Zimmer) on this sign will be a reminder of the many dedicated people who have used their talents for the benefit of the students and citizens of northern Ontonagon County."
