Melbourne Zimmerman

Melbourne Zimmerman, age 94 of Stanton, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at the Cannon Falls Medical Center. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Saturday, January 30th at the Stanton United Methodist Church with burial at the Stanton Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7:00 pm at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield and at the Church on Saturday I hour prior to Services.

Melbourne Leo Zimmerman was born May 6, 1915 in Stanton, son of August and Olive (Green) Zimmerman. He was baptized and confirmed at the Stanton United Methodist Church where he was a life long member. He attended the Stanton Country School and then began farming with his father. He also helped other farmers in the area.

On June 22, 1938 he was united in marriage to Leota Jessie Messner at Leota’s grandfather Pruett’s farm just east of Northfield. Mel and Leota farmed in the Stanton area on the Acherman farm. Then in 1946 took over running the Northfield Hospital farm. This farm being the farm his parent’s had farmed and where Mel was raised. He raised crops and milked cows until retirement from farming in 1972. Mel and Leota then moved to their longtime home in Stanton. He soon began working at the Carleton College library where he worked until 1983.

Mel was a 50 year member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Northfield. In retirement he spent many hours in his wood working shop. All of his grandchildren and many of his relatives have items he made. He and Leota enjoyed being with their many relatives, often entertaining in their home. They also liked to take car trips in their Crown Victoria to many parts of the U.S. Many of these trips were to their son’s home for Christmas. This meant many different towns due to Gary’s work related moves. They also spent a month in Florida during the winter with Leota’s brother and wife Oliver and Bernice Messner.

Melbourne is survived by his wife of 71 years Leota; son Gary (Kathleen) Zimmerman of Olathe, Kansas; grandchildren Gary Zimmerman Jr., Michelle (Jeff) Leifert, Chadd (Billie Jo) Zimmerman, Suzanne (David) Thompson, Jeffery (Abigail) Zimmerman; great grandchildren Brett, Kaely, and Riley Zimmerman, Trace Leifert; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Essie Olson.

Funeral Arrangements were by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.