Dorothy C. Zimmerman

Dorothy Chapel Zimmerman, age 86, died on February 1, 2025, in her home at Benedictine Court, St. Peter, Minnesota, of pancreatic cancer.  Funeral service will be on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 11:00 am, at the United Methodist Church of Le Sueur. Visitation will take place one hour before the service at the church. A light meal will immediately follow at the church.

Dorothy was born February 5, 1938, in Oil City, Pennsylvania to George Homer and Mildred Bunnell Chapel.  They then moved to Titusville, Pennsylvania where she graduated high school and worked in a bank until she met and married Paul J. Zimmerman on March 9, 1963.  Together, they raised two daughters. After years raising her daughters and assisting Paul in his career with moves across the country Dorothy returned to school, at the age of 38, and received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Texas -Arlington in December 1981.  After working at a community senior center for several years, she spent the next fifteen years in secretarial positions.  She enjoyed these positions as she said she could, “Get some work done and do a bit of social work on the side.”

After Paul’s retirement in 1994, they moved to Jefferson City, Tennessee where they lived for the next 20 years before moving to Benedictine Court in St Peter, Minnesota to be closer to family due to Paul’s health issues. Throughout her life she was a caring and supportive wife and mother (though she only tolerated pets, she allowed in any lost or injured animal her daughters brought home), avid seamstress, embroider, and knitter (though she hated doing alterations and did not understand why anyone would want to quilt), operatic singer (no microphone needed for this lady), active church member (including a Lay Leader certification in 1983), baseball lover (hard core Twins fan, whether they deserve it or not).

She participated with the Red Cross Disaster Relief chapters in both Texas and Tennessee for over 20 years, providing recovery assistance to tornado, flood, and fire disasters across the country; including after 9/11. At the age of 70 she traveled on a United Methodist mission trip to Zimbabwe, without Paul!  She took pride in being the oldest person on the trip.

She had a natural, quiet strength (though frequently known as “the General” by family members); unassuming wisdom; and an amazing sense of humor.  She just naturally made you feel at home with her, like you had known her forever.  Her dimply smile was contagious, but her eyes still held a bit of mischievous-ness.

She is survived by her daughters Loretta (Lori) (Jim) King (Le Sueur, Minnesota), and Susan [Tim (TJ)] Marks (Grapevine, Texas); grandchildren Paul and Adam Marks, Sarah and David King; brother-in-law John (Lorie) Zimmerman (Talbott, Tennessee); nieces and nephews Scott Zimmerman (Kettering, Ohio), and Lynora, Stephen, and Dana Bierce (Waynesville, North Carolina).  She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Zimmerman; parents George and Mildred Chapel; sister and brother-in-law Jane and Kenneth Bierce; and sister-in-law Nora Zimmerman.

We would like to thank the staff and residents of Benedictine Court - St. Peter for the love and care they have shown her through the years.