Lillian Louise Zimmerman

Lillian Louise Knigge entered into life on July 27, 1934 in Gilmer, Illinois to Louis and Elsa Knigge. She went to be with her Lord on May 22, 2021. From a young age, faith was very much a part of her life. She was baptized (August 5, 1934) by her grandfather Reverend Henry Heise and confirmed (March 30, 1947) at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington, IL.

Mission work was a part of much of her life. Early on she was heavily involved at church as her mother, Elsa, was one of the Sunday School Teachers. She also always enjoyed reading, finding time to read when she was not helping out on the family farm.

Lillian attended Concordia College in Seward, NE with the desire to become an educator. While there she met and then married the love of her life Lester Zimmerman on June 9, 1956. They were married for 60 wonderful years until his passing in November of 2016.

Early in her marriage she was wife and educator at an Indian Mission in Gresham, Wisconsin and then in another school, St. Martin in Clintonville, Wisconsin where they welcomed their first child Kathleen. A few years later they welcomed their second child Michael. They then moved to Chicago for another teaching position at Grace English Lutheran School. In 1967 her husband accepted a call as an Educational Missionary to the Hong Kong International School where Lillian began her adjustment into a career in bookkeeping. While serving in Hong Kong one of her joys was inviting sailors, away from home, to join with our family to celebrate Thanksgiving Dinner. During their last year in Hong Kong, Lester and Lillian were invited into China in 1972, to compare Chinese and American education.

Lillian continued her mission ministry mindset supporting Lester as they served in the Lutheran Educational System in Detroit, Orlando, Cincinnati, Hawaii, Salt Lake City and Dallas. She was a “mom” to the educational staff at each location. Hosting and organizing many staff events. She also could be heard in the church choirs at each location.

Lillian was a great mom to Kathy and Mike supporting them through their many activities. She passed on her love for cooking and the family recipes to her children. She also taught them to sew. She was always there to help them with their schoolwork and made sure they got the chores done. All of this while continuing to work in the bookkeeping area at local businesses and banks.

While in Dallas, she began working as a bookkeeper for Wade Drywall which in reality was really a one-woman office. She continued to be “mom” there also as she loved to bake for the workers who came through the office. She retired three times but was always convinced to return including reduced hours and working from home proving how valuable she was to the company. She finally retired at the end of December of 2020.

She is survived by sisters Leona Krause, Dolores Miethke, and Jennet Simonini; Daughter Kathleen Kollmeyer and husband John; and Son Michael Zimmerman and wife Denise; Grandchildren Barbara Miller, Mark Kollmeyer, Alex Zimmerman, Matthew Kollmeyer, and Aaron Zimmerman; and Great-Grandchildren Mikaelah Hopkins, Cody Hopkins, and Cameron Stover. Lillian is preceded in death by her siblings Willard Knigge and Robert “Butch” Knigge.

Visitation will take place at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home on the evening of Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

The Funeral Service will take place at Bethel Lutheran Church, located at 11211 E. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, Texas 75238 on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers you may give a memorial to Bethel Lutheran Church, Concordia University Nebraska LCMS Church Work Scholarship Fund.