Melanie Rose Stanko Zimmerman
Melanie Rose Stanko Zimmerman passed away quietly at home on December 24, 2021.
She was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, and was raised in Lethbridge, Alberta. She attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in English. While at BYU, she met Dean Zimmerman. The two struck up a correspondence as Melanie began her career as a high school English teacher. Dean and Melanie fell in love and were married in the Cardston, Alberta temple. Dean was a wonderful man who served Melanie for the rest of his life. Melanie stopped teaching to dedicate her life to raising her children.
Melanie was a lifelong lover of sports. She grew up as a fan of hockey and baseball. She played basketball in high school, and even played a “powder puff” exhibition football game at BYU. As an adult, she avidly followed BYU sports, especially basketball and football.
She loved to serve because she loved others. For example, she cherished the young women she taught as youth and cultivated lifelong friendships with them. For decades, she was an active member and leader in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, an organization she valued, full of friends she loved dearly.
After years of preparation, she was naturalized as an American citizen, something of which she was very proud. She loved America and was an active grassroots participant.
Food was her passion and her love language. She raised home grown fruits and vegetables in a large garden, then used them to cook creative and delicious meals that she enjoyed serving to others. She invented a number of award-winning recipes that brought her national recognition. She even won a new car after she prepared carrot chowder on “Hour Magazine,” a national television program. She eventually stopped competing in recipe contests when she won first place with a recipe she invented, without even making it. “I can’t do any better than that,” she explained.
Melanie loved people. She had an amazing memory and could recall in great detail others’ good qualities, their children, and their important events. She remembered these details because she listened carefully and genuinely cared about them.
Her faith in Jesus Christ was paramount in her life. Her prayers worked miracles. She shared her testimony of Joseph Smith generously.
Her husband (Dean), parents (Nestor and Vera Stanko), and two stillborn children (Nestor and Suzanne) preceded her in death. She is survived by her brother Roy (Rosann) Stanko; her children David (Jennifer) Zimmerman, Michelle (Greg) Smith, Michael (Kerri) Zimmerman, Jared (Josie) Zimmerman, and Jacqueline (Spencer) Candland; 23 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Alpine 8th Ward Chapel, 890 North Heritage Hills Drive, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may call on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah, and again on Thursday morning from 9:00 to 9:45 am at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the Alpine City Cemetery.
Those wishing to attend virtually may use the following link: https://zoom.us/j/93045036063 Webinar ID: 930 4503 6063.