Valena B. Zimmerman

Valena B. Zimmerman, 98, of Oak Harbor, died early Tuesday morning, December 25, 2012, at the Genoa Retirement Village, Genoa, Ohio. She was born April 26, 1914, in Oak Harbor, Ohio, to John H. and Engel Ella Sonnichson Sutter. On July 24, 1937, in Oak Harbor she married Howard F. Zimmerman, who preceded her in death May 30, 1990. Valena was a school teacher for the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District for 25 years and taught kindergarten and elementary grades. She retired in 1976. She was a lifetime member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oak Harbor, where she belonged to the Esther Circle and was the current matriarch oldest living member. Valena was also a life member of the Ottawa County Retired Teachers and the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, a member of the Ottawa County Historical Society and the Riverview Nursing Home Auxiliary. Valena is survived by her sons, David H. Zimmerman of Graytown and Robert P. Zimmerman special friend, Kathy Meyer of Toledo, daughters, Susann L. Thompson of Novelty, Ohio, and Barbara L. Zimmerman; grandchildren, Carrie Reif, Lou Ann DeRan, Michael Zimmerman, Jodi Zbierajewski, Cathy Bowman, Christine Helle, Kate Ryan, and Alyson Terrell; 18 great grandchildren, three step-great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren, and sister: Henriella Meinke of Oak Harbor. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Howard, daughter Marcia Jean, great granddaughter, Breann Kay DeRan; brothers, Arthur, Martin, Paul, John, Peter , and Godfrey Sutter; and sisters, Marie Taylor, Clara Schafer, Josephine Miller, and Esther Bell. Funeral services for Valena will be conducted 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2012 in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home Crematory, 165 E. Water St., Oak Harbor, with visitation prior to the services from noon to 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor. The family suggests any memorial contributions for Valena to go to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor, OH 43449; the Luther Home of Mercy, P.O. Box 187, Williston, OH 43468; or the donors choice.