She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 29 years, Dwight; her best friend and daughter, Michelle Zimmerman (Jeff Anderson); and her beloved granddaughter, Lauren Zimmerman, all of Maple Grove, MN. She is also survived by her sister, Dawn (Jim) Rennich of Prior Lake, MN; her step-children, Perry (Nicole) Wells of Golden Valley, MN, and Jody Wells of Buffalo, MN; as well as nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
Deborah was born on October 4, 1948, to Eugene Ellis and Betty Jean (Norris) Dunklee at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis. She graduated from Hopkins High School in 1966 and went on to study education at Drake University before completing both her B.S. in Secondary Education and her M.Ed. in Educational Administration at the University of Minnesota.
She began her career with the City of Minneapolis, serving as a teacher, community organizer, and planner. She later taught in the St. Louis Park Public Schools and concluded her professional life as an Education Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, where she dedicated many years to improving educational opportunities for students across the state.
A memorial service honoring Deborah will be held on December 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Kapala-Glodek-Malone Funeral Home in New Hope, Minnesota, with visitation from 10:00–11:00 a.m.
The service will be officiated by Pastor Skip Reeves. A reception will follow at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, Deborah requested that donations be made to the Animal Humane Society, reflecting her lifelong love for dogs and her deep support for the Humane Society’s mission.
