Mary Zimmer, 87, of Manitowoc passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Felician Village. Mary was born on December 26, 1937 to the late Joseph and Viola (Stangel) Zimmer.
Mary’s career was as an educator and school administrator. Her teaching career took her to many different places including Green Bay, Milwaukee, New York City, Japan and other points in between. She had friends here in the States and all over the world who she traveled to see and kept in touch with via letters and phone calls. She visited many countries alongside her older brother Father William Zimmer, who was her best friend and traveling buddy.
She was also a collector of Abraham Lincoln artifacts, loons, as well as anything Japanese. These items donned the walls, shelves and tables of the big house on Lincoln Blvd. Many a question was asked and answered when it came to facts related to “Honest Abe.” She also shared her American family with her Japanese family on more than a few occasions when they came for visits.
It was always a special treat when Auntie Mary visited. Whether you were engaged in a board game, reading a book, playing croquet, or kickball or golf, she was always right in the thick of it. No Christmas gathering was complete without a little play that was staged once she came in for the holiday. No summer was complete without an “Auntie Mary Day” with the neighborhood kids on North 22nd Street. She was a real renaissance woman. She touched the lives of many young people in positive and meaningful ways.
Mary left the field of teaching to return to Manitowoc and care for her mother who lived to be 99 years old. Following the death of her brother Bill and her mother, within one month of each other, she worked hard to keep both their legacies alive in the Manitowoc community.
These last years have been challenging as her health declined, but she generally managed to perk up when family and friends came for a visit.
Mary is survived by her brother and sister-in-law: John and Bernie Zimmer; sister-in-law Jolene Zimmer; nieces and nephews: Justine and Howard Lodl, Janeen and Jim Olson, JR and Melinda Zimmer, John and Helen Birr Zimmer, Michael and Rebecca Zimmer, Jennifer and Rich Young, and Charles and Kaitlyn Behrmann; great and great-great nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death Parents: Joseph and Viola Zimmer; brothers Joesph Zimmer and Father Bill Zimmer; sister Anne Behrmann; and nephew: Patrick Zimmer.
A memorial service to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Pfeffer Funeral Home, 928 S. 14th street, with Rev. Dave Beaudry officiating. Relatives and friends may greet the family at the funeral home on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 4:30 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family by visiting www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com
Memorials can be made to Roncalli High School in Mary’s memory.
The Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Pfeffer location, is assisting the family with arrangements.
