Richard D. “Zip” Zerrer, 90, of Wooster passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Brookdale Senior Living in Wooster.
He was born September 17, 1933, in Wooster, the son of Henry P. and Beatrice Forbes Zerrer. On July 2, 1954, he married Beulah E. Sparr. She survives.
Zip was a 1951 graduate of Wooster High School. He had been a design engineer for Red Head Brass for over 30 years before retiring in 2013. He was a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Downtown Rebounders, and the Wooster Moose Lodge. He really enjoyed sports. Zip was an avid golfer and enjoyed following the College of Wooster basketball team. Above all things, however, he especially loved spending time with his family.
Surviving in addition to his wife are his children Don (Karen Hubbarth) Zerrer of Port Huron, MI, Ron (Cheri) Zerrer of Springfield, John (Nancy) Zerrer of Galax, VA, Bob (Lee) Zerrer of Wooster, and Brian (Paula Ryan) Zerrer of Wooster; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Zip was preceded in death by his sisters Marge Parcell and Mary Lou Buchholz; daughter-in-law Dawn Marie Zerrer; and granddaughter Heather Kelmell
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11:00AM at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster, with Fr. Stephen Moran officiating. Burial will follow St. Mary’s Cemetery, in Wooster.
Friends will be received on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 6-8PM at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., in Wooster.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Wooster Township Fire Department, 1917 Millersburg Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.
The family extends special thanks to the staff of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare and also to the staff at Brookdale Senior Living Wooster for the wonderful care that was provided to Richard.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Our condolences to Aunt Beulah and family. So many fond memories
Mark & Diane Sparr
We love our Uncle Dick. I feel so privileged to have had Uncle Dick in my life the past 60 years. May you rest in peace. Please accept my condolences Aunt Beulah, Don, Ron, John, Bob and Brian. Take care and love you all, Rosemary Wayne Lindsey Scott and Emily Basford
What a great man! I knew him most of my life! My condolences to Beulah Don Ron John Bob and Brian. Much love and prayers to you all! Rest in heaven Zip!
Our condolences to Aunt Beulah and the Zerrer family. Corazon and I send our prayers and thoughts. May he rest in peace.
Love and comfort to all who love and remember the joy, laughter, and fondest qualities of Uncle Dick.
To Aunt Beulah and the entire family…my deepest sympathy and heartfelt love.
Laurie Sparr
Condolences to Aunt Beaulah and Family. Many fun times and precious memories of Uncle Zip. Love from Lisa and Curt
Many hugs and sympathies to Beulah and the entire family. You could always be sure to get a big hug from Dick every time you saw him. What a devoted patriarch and example to many. I am so sorry for the loss of this wonderful man. Love to you all.
Oh Sweet Beulah,
My heart aches for you. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Much love,
Kim
Beulah,Don,Ron,John,Bob,Brian and families : My heart is broken to know our beloved “Zip” is gone from his earthly home .He will always have a special place in my and my kids hearts,just as you do Beulah. So many memories of our time spent together as families with the Mills,& The Godfathers families! What fun we had. Thank you for all the love and support you gave to me when I needed it .May GOD grant you peace with all the beautiful memories you have in your ❤️ Zip is wrapped in the arms of Jesus now. Love to all.
I remember “Zippie” playing softball with my dad for Akron Brass. So many fun nights at Schellin Park, watching the best Industrial League team in Wooster. I still remember the thrill of being one of the bat boys.
Thanks for the memories Zip!
My condolences to the Zerrer family. Prayers for you all at this difficult time.
My sincere condolences to my Aunt Beulah and family. I have very fond memories of time spent with Dick over many, many years. He was a good and kind man to all he met and an outstanding husband, father and uncle. I will miss him.
Our condolences and prayers to the Zerrer Family. We all grew up together as kids. Your father was a great man . God Bless
Mrs. Zerrer, Don, Ron, John, Bobbie and Brian Deepest sympathy to you all. He was a very nice man with such a great family. i would run in to your dad every once in while, the last being at the post office with your mom. i think one of the grandkids was driving them, we talked for a bit. Thought and prayers are with you. Chriss Weirick Fetzer and Ron
We have fond memories of Dick from Dustin’s wedding and Ron’s 60th surprise birthday party. Please know you are all in our hearts and prayers as you say your earthly good-byes.
Rest in Peace Zip. It was so great to get to know You during your days at Red Head Brass and beyond. See You on the other side my friend. You will be missed.
Mrs Zerrer & Sons sending my sincere condolences to you and your family whenever i saw you in Church Mr Zerrer always had a delightful smile, and of course you did too, RIP Dick
My sincere sympathies to all of Zip’s family. He was a kind, generous and happy person. I always enjoyed talking to him when I would run into him out and about.
I really enjoyed working with Zip at Red Head and knowing him for many years.
May God bless the family and keep you all in his heavenly arms
My condolences to Aunt Beulah and to Don, Ron,John, Bob, Brian and their families at the passing of Uncle Dick. I will always remember him as a happy, friendly person who I enjoyed being around . He blessed us all with his good spirit .
The Zerrer house was almost my second home back in the 60’s
Many a backyard football game with Don and Ron both their place and mine.
Mr. Zerrer took me to my first Cleveland Browns football game at the old Muni Stadium.
Will always remember the family. Always special to me.
Zip was one of the kindest and good natured men we have known, our sympathies to his entire family, we will miss our friend and neighbor and his infectious laugh. God bless and comfort you all
My heartfelt condolences to the entire Zerrer family. Heaven gained a wonderful person. My thoughts and prayers are with each and every family member.
I was so sorry to read of Zip’s passing. He was my first boss at Akron Brass and the best one I ever had there. He had an unbelievable memory as he knew all of the parts and numbers of the thousands of different parts. He had a great sense of humor that was always around. When we moved the office from the old building across from Dioro’s to Spruce street, we held a table on top of his car with our hands out of the windows. Zip was our company softball team coach and we loved playing with him and even our little ball boy Brian. Zip took us to a Cleveland Browns game where he wore his cowboy hat for Dallas. When the game was over we couldn’t get out of the parking lot so he got out of the car and stopped traffic. I pulled the car out onto the street and he hopped in and away we went. Buelah had made sandwiches for us to eat on the way to the game. At least I have a lot of fond memorizes to keep. My sincere condolences to the entire family.