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Mary (Kathy) Zimmerman
MARY (KATHY) ZIMMERMAN
Olin
Mary (Kathy) Kathleen Zimmerman, 79, of Olin, died peacefully in Anamosa on Aug. 5, 2016.
Born June 24, 1937, to Cecile James and Lucy (Pillard) James, she grew up with her large family on a farm in Wyoming, Iowa.
Her funeral service will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at St. John Lutheran Church in Olin. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Olin Cemetery. Lahey Funeral Home of Olin is assisting the family.
Kathy began her college studies in 1956 at the University of Iowa and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College three years later with her bachelor's degree in teaching. Years later she extended her education with a M.B.A. in counseling from the University of Iowa.
She went on to teach in elementary -- fourth grade in Colo, Olin and Mechanicsville. After raising her children, she returned to Olin to teach high school. She took a break in 1982 and opened Anamosa Art and Tole, where she taught painting classes. She missed being with children, however, and finished her career in public education as the elementary/high school counselor in the Lisbon school district. Children were her passion.
She donated her time to spiritual growth in music, nursery and elementary and high school youth work at St. John Lutheran for decades.
In retirement, she sold real estate for Warren Wortman Realty, and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
She had a great love for her cats, especially Maggie and Punkin.
Kathy was preceded in death by two daughters, Alison Zimmerman and Heather (Zimmerman) Salter.
She is survived by her husband, Ken Zimmerman; daughters, Erin Zimmerman and Amy (Zimmerman) Aamodt (Doug Aamodt); sons, Jon Zimmerman (Amy Planz) and Troy Zimmerman (Irma Zimmerman); 13 grandchildren; a great-grandson; and sisters, Ruth (James) Siebels, Onalee (James) Crocker and Susan (James) Nichols.
Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church, Olin, or Jones County Meals on Wheels.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.
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