Clarence was born on a farm northwest of St. Francis, Kansas and was the ninth of John and Christina (Hoerth) Zimbelman's 11 children.

Following high school graduation and 2 years of business college, his adventurous spirit led him to work in two different civil service jobs. The first was for the War Department in Washington, D.C., and the second was a 6-month stint in the Panama Canal Zone.

In the spirit of his boyhood hero, Charles Lindbergh, he made the journey to Panama in a propeller plane that narrowly missed the treetops on takeoff. After returning to the States in 1943, Clarence enlisted in the U.S.Army, and served his country for nearly two years at China-Burma-India Theater Headquarters in New Delhi.

For the rest of his life, he loved to tell stories about the Taj Mahal, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and with more than a tinge of regret, the time he just missed being selected to board a plane to fly over 'the Hump', the route that crossed over the Himalayans of China.

When the war was over, he returned home to St. Francis. After a whirlwind courtship that started at a dance in Bird City, he married Ruth and shared almost 66 years together.

Clarence returned to his civil service career, embarking on what was to be 40 years of employment with the Bureau of Reclamation. In the early 1950s, one of his coworkers gave him the nickname Zim, and it stuck for life.

Zim took great pride in his career, and truly loved his job and the many coworkers that became his friends over the years. His Signature personality traits were his wonderful sense of humor and amazing ability to make people laugh and feel comfortable.

Zim had two daughters and was a devoted family man who modeled integrity, loyalty, and dependability. He was very generous to both his daughters, and made it possible for them to have many cultural, educational and travel experiences.

In 1981, Zim retired as the chief administrative officer on the Frying Pan - Arkansas Project in Pueblo, Colorado. Zim and his wife enjoyed many years of traveling, gardening and Shrine Club activities.

His later years were filled both with joy in his role as grandpa, as well as tremendous sadness over the long illness and eventual loss of his daughter Joan. His strong marriage and faith in God helped him endure this tragedy with grace and dignity.

After living in Pueblo for 32 years, Zim and his wife moved to Longmont, Colorado, to be closer to their daughter and family. Years later sold their home and moved into a Retirement Apartment in Boulder, Co.

Zim was a 32nd Degree Mason and a longtime member of the United Methodist Church.

Zim died peacefully at the age of 91. A memorial service was held Feb.11 at the Phillips Chapel at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community in Boulder.