I am burying a dear friend tomorrow

Mr. Ryan E. Zimmerman, 27, of Frederick, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore.

He was the husband of Dena L. Wigham Zimmerman, who is expecting their first child soon.

Born May 16, 1974, in Frederick, he was a son of Robert E. and Faye V. Zimmerman of Feagaville.

Mr. Zimmerman graduated from Frederick High School in 1992, where he was a member of the varsity wrestling team. He worked for Electronic Data Systems at the Bechtel Office in Frederick, as a computer technician.

He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and participating in martial arts. He had been an active member of the Golden Knights Karate Club for the past 19 years. He was an instructor for the children's classes at the karate school and was a third-degree black belt.

Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are his siblings, Heather Tiner and husband Travis of Hagerstown, and Shane Zimmerman of Feagaville; his grandmother, M. Mayetta Zimmerman of Feagaville; his mother-in-law, Patsy Wigham of Eugene, Ore.; his brother-in-laws, Keith Wigham and wife Liz, and Shawn Wigham, all of Eugene; his grandparent-in-laws, Orville Hamilton of Springfield, Ore., and Delpha Wigham of Eugene; his aunts and uncles, Jim and Jean Barrick of Frederick, John and Gail Mathews of Walkersville, Barbara and Bruce Smith of Richmond, Va., Mary and Phil Zimmerman of Frederick, and Sharon and Thomas Crawford of Frederick; his nieces and nephews, Brayden and Aubree Tiner of Hagerstown, Connor, Cassidy, and Logan Wigham of Eugene; and many cousins.

Mr. Zimmerman will also be remembered by his friends, Ashley Bealer and Marty Weedon.

Mr. Zimmerman was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, John and Ruby Mathews; and paternal grandparent, Roger Zimmerman.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. The Rev. Vernon C. Rushing, supply pastor of Grace United Church of Christ, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Golden Knights Karate Club, 5732A Industry Lane, Frederick, Md. 21701. -----

Tomorrow I will bury a dear friend. I have known him since he was 11 years old. I've watched him grow up and marry. He was expecting his first child in four weeks and leaves behind this child and a loving wife. His death was a terrible tragedy and needless.

I've been with him through good times and bad - for both of us. He supported me during very trying personal times and was always a good friend.

I feel like part of me has been ripped away and cannot express the loss I feel. I can only imagine how his passing is effecting his wife, family and our instructor. Our instructor has been like an older brother to both of us and like a second father to my friend as well. Maybe that is why we donated our time to the karate school - our love of each other and our instructor. Our school has never made a profit - it runs on a shoe-string budget and our instructor has always let disadvantaged kids participate for free. We've donated our time as instructors since we received our black belts out of love and respect for our instructor and each other. He is taking this loss very, very hard. My friend was like a son to him.

God has called my friend home. I've prayed daily for his family and friends since I learned of this tragedy on Tuesday. I know it is not my place to wonder why he has been called home so early. I know that I should be happy that he is now in a much better place, but I am not. I miss him terribly. Memories of him come unbidden to me constantly. Words cannot express the hurt...

At the bottom of the obituary donations are requested to be sent to the karate school that has given so much to all of us - at the request of his wife. This is rather astonishing since she planned on staying home with their child and my friend was to support the family.

We instructors met last night and have decided to establish a trust for their child with any money that comes to the school. We also plan to hold a memorial tournament each year with the proceeds going into that trust. I'm meeting with an accountant tomorrow before the service. If anyone is moved by this tragedy please send your prayers for the family. I anyone would like to insure this child and widow are taken care of we would offer our thanks and a prayer.

I may be absent from the forum for a while as this is not getting any easier.

My condolences to the family, and friends as well.

However, unless I miss my guess completely, this darwin award recipient is the one that was killed popping a wheelie and losing control and getting thrown into traffic, and immediatly struck by a car.

It seems that he also could have endangered others by his stupid actions.

If I am wrong about this then I apologize completely, and with humility. If I am right however, Darwin just added some chlorine into the gene pool, and unfortunately, the procreation already happened.

In either case, because "Our Lord and savior does not discriminate and both smart and not so smart people need prayers" my prayers and concerns are with the family and friends.

So sorry for the loss of your friend.

You wrote a very nice tribute to him and your life was blessed to have known him.

It's may not possible to understand WHY he was called Home so soon, especially in such an important time of his life, just before he was to be a father.

With time you will be better able to accept it...and you can tell his child someday what a great friend/person he was.

Maybe even write the baby a letter now, it would be a treasure for him/her when the child is old enough to understand who their father was, through your eyes....from funny childhood stories to his life as an adult.

Take care and may God give you strength during these very difficult days.

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