Daniel Zimmerman
Grafton |
Daniel William Zimmerman, retired missionary, died at age 95 on Thursday, April 19, 2018. He was born near Grafton, IL on February 2, 1923 to Edward L. and Edna (Stiermann) Zimmerman. He attended schools at Elsah, Grafton and Jerseyville. He worked a short time at Owens Illinois Glass Company before working on the flight line at Patterson Air Field in Ohio when he entered the Army Air Force in 1943. He was assigned to the Tow Target Detachment at March Field where anti-aircraft gunners were trained shooting at towed targets. Later he was trained for B-29 bombers to serve in the Pacific. When the atomic bomb was dropped he was discharged having served 3 years.
While in the Air Force he was called of the Lord to prepare for missionary service in Africa. He received his missionary training at Moody Bible Institute where he met his wife. He married Anna Marguerite Cady on April 22, 1949. They left for Africa in November of the same year. They pioneered the work of the mission and continued in the French Soudan, which later became the Mali Republic, until 1981. Upon returning to the U.S. he provided pulpit supply for local churches through the 1990’s. Since retirement they have lived near Grafton.
Surviving are his children and their spouses, Daniel (Debra) Zimmerman of Wood River, John (Cheryl) Zimmerman of Kansas City, KS, David (Vickie) of Rimouski, Quebec, Canada, and Miriam (Paul) Speer of St Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. A sister, Mary Pepper of Jerseyville, also survives him. Besides his parents, his wife Ann, daughter Martha Bickett and brother Paul Zimmerman preceded him in death.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Grafton. Pastor William Hendricks and grandson Pastor Marc Zimmerman will officiate. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Grafton. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.
Gent Funeral Home
