Margaret M Zimmerman

Margaret M Zimmerman July 20, 1918 - March 23, 2015

Margaret Zimmerman, age 96, of Waseca passed away on Monday, March 23, 2015 at the Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck in New Brighton, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca with Father Gregory Leif officiating. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Waseca. Visitation will be held prior to services at the church on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements are being completed by McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca.

Margaret, daughter of Archie and Mary (Hoffman) Bishman, was born on July 20, 1918 on a farm near Bruce, South Dakota. The Hoffmans and the Bishmans were Dakota Territory pioneer families who migrated across southern Minnesota in the 1870s. Both families lived near Waseca (Wilton and Otisco) for a period of time as they moved west. Margaret's Hoffman grandparents were married in Wilton in 1876.

Margaret grew up near Hutchinson, attended Hutchinson High School and graduated in 1935. She then attended the University of Minnesota, earned a degree in Home Economics in 1937 and met her future husband David. David and Margaret were married on August 7, 1939 at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson.

From the time Margaret moved to Waseca in 1939, she was a mover and shaker. Besides raising her family, she was a long time member of the Mother Cabrini Circle and fiercely competitive bridge player. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, Council of Catholic Women and was a dedicated 4-H leader. In the early 1970s, Margaret became an ardent pro-life advocate and discovered the world of politics. In 1976, she started the annual community Thanksgiving dinner (now held each year at the Waseca Senior Center.)

Margaret did not shy away from a cause she believed in or a new adventure. She enjoyed

taking many road trips with her grand-kids and in the 1970s, took a 10-day bus trip by herself up the Alaska Highway to visit the grand-kids in Alaska. She loved her 18 grand- kids and marveled that she had 35 great-grand kids.

Margaret is survived by her daughters, Annette (Don) Bray of North Pole, AK, Alice (Dale) Oden of Shoreview, MN, and Rebecca (Jerry) Thompson of Littleton, CO; son-in-law, Harold Schlueter of Bertha, MN; daughter-in-law, Karen Zimmerman of Waseca; and by many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, husband, David F; daughter, Annita Schlueter; son, David C. Zimmerman and other relatives and friends.

Memorials are preferred to any of the following:

1. Franciscan Brothers of Peace Queen of Peace Friary 1289 Lafond Ave Saint Paul, MN 55104-2035 http://brothersofpeace.org

2. Options For Women Mankato Box 5385 Mankato, MN 56002 http://optionsforwomen.org

3. Prolife Across America PO Box 18669 Minneapolis, MN 55418 https://prolifeacrossamerica.org

4. Sacred Heart Catholic Church 111 4th Street NW Waseca, MN 56093 http://sacredheartwaseca.org

5. Catholic Rural Life University of St. Thomas Mail Number 4080 2115 Summit Avenue