John Vimmerstedt

Dr. John Paul Vimmerstedt ("Jack") was born in Jamestown, New York, to Theodore Paul Carl Vimmerstedt and Lella Doris (Johnson) Vimmerstedt. He married Mary Eva Galt in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Vimmerstedt graduated from Jamestown High School and from Syracuse University, College of Forestry. His military service was based at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dr. Vimmerstedt worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Bent Creek, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. He pursued further education in forestry at North Carolina State University and Yale University, receiving a Master's and Doctorate of Forestry from Yale. Dr. Vimmerstedt worked at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio until his retirement.
Dr. Vimmerstedt's professional career in forestry research addressed reclamation of soils on strip mines, soil management in high-use areas such as campgrounds, and use of waste streams such as sewage sludge to improve forest soils. Dr. Vimmerstedt taught and mentored graduate students at the Ohio State University, where he was known for his contagious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of woodland ecosystems. His passion for forestry extended to his volunteer work, as he served on the Wooster Shade Tree Commission and on the Ohio Governor's Forestry Commission. For many years, Dr. Vimmerstedt assisted in management of the Christmas tree plantation for the Wayne County chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
A passion for the common good inspired his value of civic participation and involvement in policy and politics. A founding member of the Wayne County Democratic Party, Dr. Vimmerstedt regularly organized and canvassed for candidates. His environmental knowledge informed his advocacy of environmental and watershed management priorities in land use planning.
Survivors include a sister, four children, ten grandchildren, and many beloved relatives and friends: Judy (Vimmerstedt) Morrell of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Carol Crawford of Denmark, Wisconsin (husband Jim Crawford; Mary, Ben, and Sam Crawford); Margaret Vimmerstedt of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (husband Loren Hintz; Carl Hintz); William Vimmerstedt of Columbus, Ohio (Joseph, Elaina, William, and Henry Vimmerstedt); and Laura Vimmerstedt of Denver, Colorado (husband Christian Hopfer; Theodor and Alex Hopfer). A loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, relative, and friend, we will miss his gentle, loyal, caring presence in our lives; his openness and welcoming attitude to strangers; his practical perspectives; his passions for nature, music, literature, culture, and science; and his goofy sense of humor. Singing with conviction, reading aloud, connecting with people, connecting with nature, seeking balance, questioning, working for what you believe, working things out with others, never giving up, patience…his joys and values live on.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Viola Startzman Clinic, 1874 Cleveland Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691. https://www.startzmanclinic.org/donate