Zimmermann, Pastor John C.

Pastor John C. Zimmermann, 96, of Vinton, formerly of Eldora, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, at The Lutheran Home in Vinton. He had a humble and confident trust in his gracious Savior and died peacefully in the arms of the Good Shepherd. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora, with Pastor David Splett officiating. Burial will follow at City Cemetery in Eldora. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.

John was born Jan. 9, 1914, in Burt, Iowa, the son of Mike and Frieda (Riggert) Zimmermann. He received his elementary education at Burt and Algona, Iowa, and his high school and college training at Concordia, St. Paul, Minn. He entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., in 1933 and graduated in 1937. The Rev. Zimmermann was ordained into the Lutheran ministry on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31, 1937. On June 5, 1938, he was united in marriage with Mae Etta Wheat at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Dodge. Their marriage was blessed with five children.

God enabled him to be a faithful and loving servant to the Church and God's People, serving parishes in Wheaton and Montevideo, Minn., and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora. In 1970, the Rev. Zimmermann was elected president of Iowa District East of The Lutheran Church-Missouri synod, moving to Marionin 1974, when the presidency became full-time. The Rev. Zimmermann also served as International Counselor of the LWML and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis. In December 1976, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from his alma mater, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

In 1982, John and Mae Etta retired to Eldora and, in 2002, moved to the Lutheran Home in Vinton, where John resided at the time of his death.

John is survived by his children, Ann Thompson of Eldridge, Pamela (Curt) Peters of New Albany, Ind., the Rev. Bruce (Mary) Zimmermann of Wellsburg, the Rev. Tim (Carol) Zimmermann of Iowa City and the Rev. Fred (Carol) Zimmermann of Shawano, Wis.; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; brother, Martin Zimmermann; and sister, Lena Ostwald.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mae Etta, on March 1, 2010.