Please accept my sympathy in the death of your father, Gideon Zimmerman. He was a faithful servant of God for many years. I recall a day when he extended much grace when I was facing a significant challenge in ministry. What a blessing he was to me. I also visited with him by phone serveral times in my role here at Sioux Falls Seminary. He was always supportive, gracious, and generous. God Bless you!

My wife Laura and I grew to quickly love and respect this Baptist Statesman when we were a part of the Crescent Hill congregation.  Gideon and Eleanor took us under their loving wings in a spirit of family and mentorship.  In the most positive sense, they were a compelling presence of faith-formation in our lives.  We extend our deepest condolences to the family.

I want to express my appreciation of the help Dr. Zimmerman gave to us at the Heritage Commission by identifying so many of the picture that he did.

December 29, 2011

Uncle Gideon, brother to my father Ben, had an amazing life: as an executive secretary of the German Baptist denomination he was a link to several centuries of German ancestors. One of his "hobbies" was researching the Zimmermann family and compiling his memoirs, which I am trying to continue! A distant cousin Oskar in California is also involved in this work. Gideon and family visited the Zimmermann ancestral home near Stuttgart, built in 1750 and rebuilt after it was bombed during the second world war. A moving experience was also visiting the ancestors' Lutheran church there, built in 1599! Both my dad Ben and Gideon graduated from the German seminary in Rochester, NY in 1944 and there is a wonderful photograph of the class and professors. Walter Rauschenbusch,a distinguished past professor, was one of their guiding lights in pastoral work. Gideon also made other trips including one to Russia during the cold war as well as meeting President Nixon.

My father Ben is the last surviving member of this generation of the family and is doing very well at nearly 94.

A true gentleman, Gideon will be missed, but we should all have lived such luminous lives!

Donald Zimmermann

Jean and I enjoyed Dr. Gideon Zimmerman through the years as he led the North American Baptist Conference for God's glory in various positions of leadership. We especially remember Dr. Zimmerman's visit to our home in Buffalo, NY, when we feasted on pork chops and applesauce. We extend our sympathy to Dr. Thomas Zimmerman, Rev. Paul Zimmerman and Rev. Benjamin Zimmerman as well as the 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Rev. David Ewing (Williamsville, NY)

My wife, Jo and I extend our sympathy to you in this time of loss.How fitting that our brother Zimmerman will get to celebrate Christmas with the Savior whose Gospel He sought to spread throughout the world. He was the Executive Secretary of the NAB Conference when we began our ministry in 1971, and I had the privilege of working with him in a variety of ways. He was in his last year of leadership when we were appointed as church planters. We always appreciated his wise and gentle ways of influencing and leading. So, on behalf of the Northern Plains Region of the North American Baptist Conference, I join you in celebrating a life well-lived.

Rev. Phyl Putz
Northern Plains Regional Minister
pputz@npregion.org

OBITUARY

Gideon K. Zimmerman

August 18, 1920 – December 20, 2011

Arch L. Heady and Son - Cralle Funeral Home and Cremation Services

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