A Cambridge couple who has tirelessly volunteered for many service organizations for over 50 years has been selected as the 2024 Isanti County Outstanding Seniors.
Alvin and Virginia Zimmerman will make their first official appearance as the 2024 Isanti County Outstanding Seniors during the Isanti Rodeo Jubilee Days Parade on Thursday, July 11. They will also be honored during an outstanding senior program at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, during Senior Day at the Isanti County Fair.
The Zimmermans were nominated for the award by their seven children. The nomination letter states: “Our parents have been great role models for us. Their honesty, integrity, values and passion to help others make them the perfect choice for recognition. Together with our spouses, their 21 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, we are honored to recommend Alvin and Virginia Zimmerman for Senior Citizens of the Year for their outstanding achievements in volunteerism.”
Alvin and Virginia, who have lived in the Cambridge area since 1962, were at first a little hesitant about being selected as the outstanding seniors, but eventually decided to let it happen.
“It was a surprise,” Virginia said. “We are happy, we are good with it. We are proud that they (our family) think so much of us. We are honored they (our family) wrote all those nice things about us.”
The Zimmermans, who have been married for 66 years, are members of Christ the King Catholic Church in Cambridge where Alvin volunteers regularly as an usher. They also are active in the community on a bowling league, horseshoe league and often are seen at senior dances.
The Zimmermans have also heavily been committed to the Cambridge Lions Club where Alvin has been a member for 56 years and Virginia has been a member for over 30 years.
Alvin as held various titles with Lions International, including regional chair, 2003-2004; Lion of the Year, 2004-2005; district governor, 2006-2007; and Lion of the Year, 2016-2017; before being inducted into the Lions MD5M Hall of Fame, 2021-2022.
“It’s an honor to be inducted into the Lions Hall of Fame,” Alvin said. “It’s posted in Lions International in Chicago. You have to be nominated by the district.”
Virgina received the Lions Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in 2005-2006 and was named Lion of the Year in 2008-2009. As part of their volunteerism with the Lions, they collected used eye glasses to help people with vision issues.
Alvin credited his previous boss for getting him involved with the Lions: “Cargill had a habit of changing their managers every six years, and he left, and he said to me I should join the Lions or some organization. So that’s when I joined and I just liked it.”
Alvin said he was approached many times to be governor of the Lions Club and finally agreed to serve in that position after he retired.
“It’s a lot of work and you are gone so much,” Alvin said. “As governor, you are gone almost every night with 55 different clubs, and at that time there was still the Lioness Clubs and there were 10 of them. There were conventions all over the place, all over the world actually. I traveled to Boston for a convention and all over the state of Minnesota.”
Virgina appreciates the fact that she and Alvin both like to serve.
“And that’s what they do,” Virgina said regarding the Lions Club. “We serve, and we help less fortunate people.”
Alvin’s career brought him and his wife to the Cambridge area, spending 27 years in the agricultural business, and then he spent the next part of his career as a pool chemical salesman. Virginia spent her career as a bank secretary.
Growing up, Alvin attended Elk River High School and Virginia attended St. Michael High School.
“We met at a roller skating rink in Elk River,” Alvin said. “My buddy had her out for a date roller skating. And the first time I ever went on a date with her was at a dance in Rogers.”
The Zimmermans have also served as co-chairs of the Cambridge Lions taco wagon at the Isanti County Fair for over 20 years before stepping down this year as co-chairs, but will continue to volunteer with the taco wagon.
“And we couldn’t have done any of this without the help of our Lions Club,” Virginia said. “We’re not the only members. Without the members, we couldn’t do nothing.”
Alvin has also been a member of the Cambridge American Legion Post 290 and the Moose Lodge for over 20 years; and Virginia, current treasurer of the Cambridge Lions Club, also coordinates the messages for the Lions’ electronic billboard on Highway 95 in Cambridge.
The Zimmermans also help with the Cambridge Ambassador pancake breakfast as well as with the Cambridge Lions pancake breakfast held each year on Father’s Day at the Cambridge Municipal Airport.
“We probably see more of our kids there on Father’s Day at that breakfast than we do any other time except Christmas,” Alvin jokingly said.
As for where their volunteerism spirit comes from, the Zimmermans don’t have a specific reason, but both come from large families.
“I don’t know where it comes from exactly,” Alvin said, who has nine siblings. “I don’t care about myself that much; I care about everybody.”
“It just gives you a good feeling to help people,” Virginia said, who has 11 siblings.
Alvin has also spent nine years volunteering with the Cambridge-Isanti High School garden where he diligently pulled weeds for at least one hour a day and kept it watered. The Zimmermans also have adopted a 2-mile section of Highway 65 between Cambridge and Grandy, cleaning up the highway once in the fall and once in the spring.
“Beyond their civic contributions, my grandparents have also been incredible role models for our family. They have faced life’s challenges with grace, wisdom and unwavering faith,” wrote Sonia Hartland in her nomination letter, granddaughter of Alvin and Virginia Zimmerman. “Their marriage of over 60 years is a testament to the power of love, patience and compromise. I believe my grandparents embody the very essence of what it means to be outstanding senior citizens. It is with great pride and admiration that I recommend them to be the Isanti County Senior Citizens of the Year. Their lifetime of service, compassion and leadership is worthy of this prestigious recognition.”
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