Ferdonna Irene Zimmerman

   Ferdonna Irene Zimmerman was born on October 2, 1934, the daughter of Herman and Irene (Ahrenholtz) Hast in Buck Grove, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Buck Grove. She received her education from the country school in Buck Grove and graduated from Denison High School.

     Ferdonna married James Zimmerman on June 14, 1956, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dow City and the couple was blessed with one daughter, Vickie Sue. The couple lived in Fort Riley, Kansas for three years, where Ferdonna worked as a teller at the bank in Junction City. Following Jim’s service in the Army, the family moved back to Iowa and spent time living on her family farm near Buck Grove. In 1968, the family made their home on a farm near Irwin. Ferdonna worked at the First National Bank in Denison for many years and then Shelby County State Bank in Irwin and Harlan. In 1999, the couple built a home near Manilla.

    Ferdonna was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, where she served as Treasurer and sang with the church choir. She was also involved with two local quilting circles. She really enjoyed sewing, making quilts, hardanger embroidery, and ceramics. She also spent time helping with farm chores and gardening. She preserved strawberry jam, which was her granddaughters' favorite. Ferdonna and Jim were able to travel in their older years, including 49 states, Canada, and many European countries. Above all, she cherished spending time with her grandchildren and watching them play softball and run cross country.

     Ferdonna passed away at home on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the age of 89 years and one day.

     Ferdonna was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Ed and Elvira Zimmerman; special friend, Steve Jones; brother-in-law, Larry Zimmerman; and sisters-in-law, Detta Zimmerman and Annie Lou Zimmerman. She is survived by her husband, Jim Zimmerman of Manilla; daughter, Vickie Hanson of Spencer; two granddaughters: Cassandra (Jon) Nelson and Christina Hanson (Bradley Lackey) all of Bondurant; three great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Rylee and Remington; siblings-in-law: Dewey (Sharon) Zimmerman of Allentown, New Jersey, JoAnn (James) Martens of Manning, Jerry (Sue) Zimmerman of Dixon, Tennessee, Delbert Zimmerman of Summerville, South Carolina, Thelma (Vern) Kenkel of Denison, Anita (Leonard) Hansen of Exira; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. all on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery near Irwin. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla.