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William Minehart Zimmerman
Incident
Captain William Zimmerman suffered a fatal heart attack minutes after struggling with an inmate at the Iowa Men's Reformatory in Anamosa. He and other officers had to forcibly remove an inmate from his cell in order to move him to isolation. As they attempted to remove him from the cell the man struggled with the officers and then attempted to hold onto the cell's bars and railings. Minutes after getting the man into isolation Captain Zimmerman collapsed. Captain Zimmerman had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corrections Captain Zimmerman gave the Iowa Department of Corrections 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Captain Zimmerman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Iowa Department of Corrections has lost 14 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
William is one of 11 officers lost to cardiac events in IA, 4.9% of the 226 remembered there.
William is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 1 officer in IA was lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
In 1967, 19 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1967, 19 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
William was 46. Of the 11 lost to cardiac events in IA whose age is recorded, half were between 46 and 55; the middle age was 51. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
William was 46. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
William was 46. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
October holds 36.4% of these deaths in IA, more than any other month. Sundays: 18.2%.
October holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.
October holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 13.9%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 7.1% of all 14 deaths at Iowa Department of Corrections, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 100% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.9% of all 226 deaths in IA, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 18.2% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16% of these deaths.
His people
Iowa Department of Corrections has 14 officers remembered here, William among them.
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John Elder Apr 30, 1882
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Robert Hart
Jul 9, 1940
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William Harrison Hollingsworth
Mar 7, 1948
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William Minehart Zimmerman
Oct 1, 1967
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Samuel Reed
Apr 11, 1969
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Joseph Kruse
Jun 8, 1972
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Gerald Raymond Featheringill Feb 18, 1979
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Scott Edward Bryant
May 17, 2004
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Daniel Morris Jones
Jul 27, 2007
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Robert John Vidimos, II
Nov 16, 2020
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Michael Donovan Teachout
Nov 28, 2020
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Robert Levi McFarland
Mar 23, 2021
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Lorena Yanira Schulte
Mar 23, 2021
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Richard William Newkirk
Nov 3, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Iowa Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
