Donna Zimmer

Donna Mae (Gottwald) Zimmer, 87, died Nov. 4, 2019 at her family's home in Mandan, N.D.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of St. Joseph in Mandan on Friday, November 8, at 10:30 AM followed by interment at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Minot on Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00 AM followed by a luncheon at the church.

Donna was born Nov. 30, 1931 to Theodore and Mary (Betz) Gottwald in St. Cloud, Mn. where she grew up with three sisters and four brothers and graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School.

In 1950, she married Robert F. Zimmer, and they made their home in White Bear Lake, Mn. until moving to Minot, N.D. in 1965. Together they raised four children: Brenda Hilgers, Bottineau; Dianne (David) Cramer, Garrison; karen Bauer, Mandan; and James (Joan) Zimmer, Minot.

Donna was a mom and homemaker who loved to bake and cook. She also loved working in the yard and growing vegetables for canning and flowers, especially roses, for pleasure. Her joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, playing games with them for hours. She liked to embroider and often surprised her family with beautiful handmade gifts.

In retirement, Donna and Bob took many trips in their camping trailer, some close to home at the lake and others across the country. Fishing was another enjoyment for Donna, and she often caught the biggest or the most when out on a family fishing trip.

In the spring of 2019, she moved to Mandan to be closer to her growing family.

Family and friends will truly miss her. She was a loving mom and grandmother and a good and true friend.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her parents, two sisters, and her four brothers.

Thank you to the kind friends in Minot who had many a giggle and good time with Mom whether a night of needlework or an afternoon lunch.

And a special thank you to Hospice and the loving home health angels who helped us take care of Mom on her life’s final journey.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Sanford Health Hospice Care.

Please go to her Tribute Wall to sign the guestbook and share memories with her family.