Norma Gertrude Van Buren was born on a farm near Delavan, Kansas on June 20, 1926. She was the daughter of William (Bill) and Marie Meyer Van Buren, both of whom have preceded her in death.
She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Latimer, KS, confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, KS, and joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Alta Vista, KS after she and her parents moved to the Alta Vista community in 1943. She remained a lifelong member of St. Paul’s and was very active in her church, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, playing the organ and working with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
Her early childhood education was at Lone Star, a one-room county school in Morris County, KS. She graduated from Herington High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1944, and attended Kansas State University, majoring in journalism and interior design. She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.
On June 9, 1948, Norma married Victor Zimmerman at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Alta Vista. For 40 years they farmed and raised cattle in the Flint Hills of Kansas. They were blessed with two children, David and Susan. Vic and Norma were married 66 years.
Norma worked as a proof reader for the Manhattan Mercury newspaper and as a reporter for the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. She also worked for the Kansas Farm Bureau, was an interior designer at Sawyer Furniture Store, a substitute clerk and rural mail carrier for the post office and an Associate Realtor for Better Homes and Garden’s Agency in Manhattan. For a number of years, she gave piano lessons and had twenty students at one time.
Besides her church work, Norma was also active in community organizations. For many years she was a member of an Extension Homemakers Club, was a 4-H leader, a member of the Morris County, Kansas, Extension Board and Dwight Home and Garden Club.
Norma always had a beautiful flower garden, enjoyed reading interior design, and writing. Besides writing many personal letters, she researched and wrote a family history, the history of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for their centennial celebration and her on personal memoirs.
In 1958 she was selected to the Kansas representative to CBS’s Televisit Week in New York City, and sent back stories of her experiences that were published in the Topeka Daily Capitol.
After their retirement, Vic and Norma traveled extensively, visiting nearly every state in the USA, as well as Canada and Mexico while spending winters in Arizona.
For the last 15 years, they divided their time between Ponca City, Oklahoma and their country home south of Alta Vista, Kansas. When in Ponca City, attended First Lutheran Church and made many friends there, as well as enjoying the activities of their children and grandchildren.
On the morning of April 18, at the age of 88 years, 9 months and 30 days, the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise that He made with her at her baptism and gave her the promised crown of everlasting life. Even though her body was badly beaten by the rigors of cancer, she remained a strong example of faith to those whose lives intersected hers. She wanted everyone to know of the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing in her victory, while grieving the temporary separation are: her husband Victor Zimmerman of the home; son David Zimmerman and wife Shirley; daughter Susan Brunkow and husband Bradley all of Ponca City, Oklahoma; grandchildren Paula Shuck and husband Michael of Edmond, OK; Aaron Zimmerman and wife Heather of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Nathan Zimmerman of Frisco, Texas; Eric Brunkow of Overland Park, Kansas; and Kristen Brunkow of Topeka, Kansas; great grand children Evan Shuck; Ethan Shuck; Aspen Zimmerman; Reece Zimmerman; and many other dear friends, congregational members, and prayer supporters.
Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Alta Vista, Kansas.