Dr Fletcher Everett Zimpfer

Dr. Fletcher Everett Zimpfer II (FEZ) passed away peacefully on March 11, 2021 at Friendship Village in Tempe, Arizona. He was born January 13,1937 to Martha Ellen and Wilfred "Red" Zimpfer in Sidney, Ohio, and while he was a small town boy at heart, Fletcher would go on to do big things. He attended Ohio State University, where he played varsity lacrosse and was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. From there, he went on to medical school at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, followed by an internship in Jackson, Mississippi. Then in 1964, Fletcher joined the Navy and trained to become a flight surgeon. He was assigned to a marine squadron in Vietnam, where he courageously flew aboard medevac missions to the front lines of the war treating critically injured soldiers. While still serving his country, Fletcher married the love of his life, Kathryn Wenstrup, on May 29th, 1965 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney. Two years later, after receiving an honorable discharge from the military, Fletcher completed his residency in dermatology at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. He furthered his education and expertise by studying Mohs skin cancer surgery under the tutelage of Dr. Frederic Mohs at the University of Wisconsin. Fletcher and Kay then relocated to Tempe, where Fletcher established his own dermatology practice and, together with Kay, went on to raise two beautiful daughters, Katie and Molly. Fletcher was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and numerous civic organizations, such as the Kiwanis Club, the Tempe Diablos, and the Tempe Diplomats. He was compassionate and generous, always caring about and giving to those less fortunate. While he was an avid racquetball player and golfer, Fletcher's favorite sport was torturing his friends with relentless banter about his other true love: THE Ohio State Buckeyes. And yet, as much as Fletcher enjoyed the ribbing and razzing, his most endearing trait of all was his ability to laugh at himself. As those who knew him well would say, "He could sure dish it out -- but he could take it, too." Laughter, joy and love were at the very core of Fletcher's infectious spirit. A dedicated, loving and all-in son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend, Fletcher will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, JoAnn Wells, and is survived by his wife Kay; daughters Katie Swanson and Molly Zimpfer; grandsons Oscar and Hugo Z-Suraci; nephews Chip and Joe Wells and niece Betsy Wells Koeppel; and a long list of loved ones on Kay's side of the family. A celebration of Fletcher's life will occur at a future date TBD. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter. Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the Zimpfer family.

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