Charles Walter Ziemer Jr.

Born August 14, 1940 in Bangor, Maine to Dr. C.W. Ziemer and Sage Gardner Ziemer, he married Dr. Lesley P. Graham on August 1, 1973 at St Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Illinois. His father, mother, nephew, and wife preceded him in death.

Surviving are his daughter, Courtney (David) Castillo of Bloomington, his granddaughter Sofia Castillo of Bloomington, his grandson Jordyn Castillo of Fort Wayne, IN, two sisters, Ann (Robert) McGregor of Salt Lake City, UT and Shannah (Ed) Wesemann of Salt Lake City, UT, and several nieces and a nephew.

He attended the University of Tulsa where he earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. He was a member of Kappa Sigma social fraternity and Psi Mu, graduate psychology honorary. He did additional graduate study at Illinois State University and Bradley University. He worked as a school psychologist since 1965 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Springfield and Lincoln Illinois. He was employed as a psychologist for the Peoria Public Schools since 1974 with regional low-incidence programs and from 1984 with programs for students with severe/profound multiple handicaps, moderate mental impairments, and autism. He retired from the Peoria Public Schools in June 2004 after 30 years with the school district and a 39 year career as a school psychologist.

He was a member of the National Association of School Psychologists, Illinois School Psychologists Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Phi Delta Kappa Education Honorary, and the Peoria Federation of Teachers. He was a past President of the Peoria Chapter 79 of the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Peoria Area Association of School Psychologists. He served on the Executive Board of the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children and was chairman of the Governmental Relations Committee when the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in 1975. He was recognized by the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children with the Meritorious Service award in 2000 for his service to the education of students with disabilities.

He was a member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Peoria where he served as the Dean’s Warden, Chapter member, Eucharistic minister, and Master of Ceremonies. He was a member of the Liturgy, Personnel, and Stewardship Committees. He was a recipient in 1991 of the Shield of St. Paul for his service to the Church. He was a Master Mason and member of Bloomington Lodge 43 in Bloomington, IL.

A memorial service will be at St Paul’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 11am with family visitation half an hour prior to the service. The Rev. Jenny Replogle and the Rev. Jonathan Thomas will officiate. Cremation has been accorded with internment in the church columbarium.

He was a kidney transplant recipient in June 2003 with gratitude to John and his family. Memorials may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation, the Gift of Hope Organ Bank, American Cancer Society or to his church.