Ziermer, Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth Ziemer is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior. After a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's and complications, her spirit left this realm on Friday, April 27, 2012.

A celebration of her life will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 3, at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Midwest Garden of Memories in Waterloo, Iowa.

Mary Elizabeth Rollins was born Jan. 9, 1921, to Harry Gilbert Sr. and Sarah Alice Bertha (Neith) Rollins in Waterloo, Iowa. She graduated from East High School in 1939. On Feb. 7, 1954, she was united in marriage to Robert Herbert Ziemer at the Little Brown Church in the Vale. They spent 29 precious years together, until his passing in 1983.

Mary's zest for life was infectious. Whether at work as a secretary in the medical profession, being active in her church or being with her family and friends her joy lifted spirits everywhere. She feared nothing, but was firm in her faith that God would see her through. Always adventurous, she swam across the Cedar River as a young girl, worked in Washington, D.C. for a year after high school, took oil and china painting lessons, raised horses, went kayaking at 85 and enjoyed her gourmet group of over 40 years. But her greatest priority and joy was her family. They knew they were loved - what more could one want!

Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Gilbert and Peggy Carl Ziemer of Cedar Rapids; two grandsons, Zachary Ziemer of St. Paul, Minn., and Tobiah (Toby) Ziemer of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Carolyn R. Griffith of Arlington, Va.; and a brother, Harry G. Rollins, Jr.(Virginia) of East Alton, Ill.; as well as a sister-in-law, Norma Walther of Cedar Falls; and brother and sister-in-law, Max and Edith Ziemer of Detroit, Mich.; five nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; a son, Gregory; her parents; a sister, Dorothy Tucker; and a nephew, Geoffrey Griffith.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be left at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette April 29, 2012.