Naomi Ruth Zellmer

Naomi Ruth Jueckstock Zellmer, 94, passed peacefully from this earthly life and into heaven’s eternity on June 30, 2022. Her visitation will be held at 9 a.m. with a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022, at Grace Life Church, 10210 Barringer Foreman Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, followed by burial next to her husband of 68 years, Jerry Zellmer, at Port Hudson Military Cemetery. Her family deeply appreciates the heartfelt condolences and beautiful memories shared by those who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Grace Life Church at https://gracelifefellowship.org/give

Naomi was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 26, 1928, to Gustav and Mabel Wells Jueckstock, one of the youngest of nine children. She attended Nyack Bible College in New York, and soon began her labor of loving service in Baton Rouge at the Blundon Orphanage. While attending a conference at LSU, she met Jerry on a double date over pizza, and he saw the twinkle in her eyes and asked to get to know her better. They immediately realized they were meant to be, and married three months later on September 17, 1953. They soon started their family of six children, bought their first home in Baton Rouge, and built lifelong friendships with several other families in their neighborhood and home church.

Naomi will always be remembered for her gentle and caring ways, her devotion to the Lord and to Jerry, her beautiful singing, her loving attention to children, and her hospitality. Mealtime was always special to our family, as she cooked with love, flavor, and attention to detail of color and nutrition. She had a special talent to expand a meal not only for our family of eight, but to also feed the many visitors invited for dinner, and even when the family grew to over 40. In 1967, Naomi and Jerry moved their family to Brazil, where they served 10 years as Christian missionaries in an Indian tribe, Bible school, and a boarding school, where Naomi cooked for the students and teachers. Returning to Louisiana in 1977, she worked at Sunburst Bank until her retirement. She and Jerry have been worshiping the Lord with their church family at Quail Ridge Bible Church, now Grace Life Fellowship, since that time, and leave behind many dear friends there. She was blessed with 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, and delighted in having them over to pamper, cuddle, and shower each one with special attention.

Naomi was preceded in death by her parents, the love of her life, Gerhardt “Jerry” Zellmer, and her siblings, Michael, Donald, Harry, Geraldine Ivory, Dorothy McDonald, Jack, Carol Brocklehurst, and Dave. She is survived by her children, Terry and Barbara Zellmer, Becky and Pepper Posey, Ruth and Charbel Harb, Gayle and Chad Saathoff, Sarah and Rex Moore, Paul and Holly Zellmer; grandchildren, Lane Zellmer, Marisa Zellmer and fiancé Chris O’Brien, Kaitlyn Posey and Joshua Works, Rachel Posey and Andrew Nfodjo, Cara Posey and Matt Daniels, Jeanna Harb and Sam Broussard, Angela Harb and Josh Hayden, Alex Harb, Dana Saathoff and Tim Eubanks, Garrett Saathoff, Patrick and Liliana Moore, Kristianne Moore, Brandon and Megan Garrettson, and Emily Zellmer and Cody Cannon; and great grandchildren, MJ Works, Daniel, Simon, Hannah, James, Phillip, and Micah Broussard, Jonah, Penelope, Elliott, and Yvette Hayden, Sophia and Gavin Garrettson, and Ritter Cannon, one sister-in-law Joan Jueckstock, and many nieces and nephews.