Memorial service will be 11 am Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Jeffrey Bovee officiating.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

He is survived by eight children: Natalie (Daniel) Borgwardt of New Ulm, MN, Patrick Zimmermann of Lakeside, AZ, Monica Zimmermann of Wauwatosa, WI, Seth Zimmermann (Heidi) Zimmermann of Appleton, WI, Melissa Fox of Fairfax, MN, Jacob (Sarah) Zimmermann of Fremont, WI and Marion Standing of New Ulm, MN. Nelson is also survived by 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis.

Nelson Raymond Zimmermann was born on September 16, 1941 in Prescott, AZ, the only child of Rev. Raymond and Ina Zimmermann. Nelson’s early years were spent in Arizona in Prescott and then Glendale. He graduated from Glendale Public High School in 1959. Nelson enrolled at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN in 1959 and graduated in 1963 with a BS in Elementary Education. He then attended the University of Arizona where he earned an MEd in History. In 1964 Nelson received a call to serve at East Fork Mission on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. He taught at East Fork Lutheran High School until 1981, and served in other various capacities until 1991. In 1966 Nelson married Phyllis née Krueger, who was also a teacher at East Fork Mission. The Zimmermanns were blessed with eight children. In 1991, Nelson accepted a call to be principal at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Cibecue, AZ. He moved to Sanborn, MN in 1996 to be principal at Zion Lutheran School, where he served until his retirement in 2004. In retirement Nelson split his time caring for Phyllis who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, working part-time at McDonalds, and pursuing his life-long passions of hunting, fishing, and reading. Nelson joined the Church Triumphant on November 8, 2021.

Memorials will be designated per Nelson’s wishes to WELS Christian Aid and Relief.

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