Individual Details

SOURCE: Zimmerman Family Genealogy Book

Ralph was born in Strackholt, Ostfreisland, Germany. He received his early education in Germany. At the turn of the century the Zimmerman family came to the United States and settled in the Monticello (Langworthy) area. Ralph was a farmer until retirement, when he moved to Monticello, Iowa. He married Catherine H Harms in Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Jones Co, Iowa. Later they joined St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. Catherina was born at Veifel, Germany, the daughter of Benhard and Etta Harms. She emigrated to the United States with her parents in 1893. Catherina died from a heart condition.
Ralph and Catherina are buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello, Iowa.
Ralph and Catherina had eight children


MR. AND MRS. RALPH ZIMMERMAN will observe their 50th wedding anniversary today (Thursday) with open house at their farm home from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Zimmerman and Catharina Harms were married Dec. 19, 1907 by the late Rev. C. Mardorf of Wayne Center at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard Harms of Castle Grove. They farmed in southwest Lovell township for two years and then moved to their present homestead. They are the parents of six children, Mrs. Damon (Edna) Gray, Carl, Rudolf, Lorenz and Donald, all of Monticello, and Mrs. William (Olena) Oltman of Anamosa, who will celebrate her 19th wedding anniversary the same day. The Zimmermans have 23 grandchildren and one great grandson.

Birth	14 Nov 1885	Germany, Ostfriesland, Strackholt
Marriage	19 Dec 1907	Wayne Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wayne Township, Jones, Iowa, United States - Catherina Harms
Census (family)	1925	Lovell Township, Jones, Iowa, United States - Catherina Harms
Death	7 Jan 1970
Burial		Oakwood Cemetery, Jones, Iowa, United States

Spouse	Catherina Harms (1885 - 1964)
Child	Benhard G "Bennie" Zimmerman (1908 - 1926)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Olena K Zimmerman (1914 - 2006)
Child	Rudolph "Rudy" Zimmerman (1916 - 1976)
Child	Living
Child	Harold Ahrend Zimmerman (1924 - 1926)
Child	Living

Father	Gerd Gerdes Zimmerman (1823 - 1909)
Mother	Gretke Frieden "Grace" Trawnicht / Tranerniht (1844 - 1917)
Sibling	Margaret Zimmerman (1875 - )
Sibling	Gerhard Gerdes Zimmerman (1875 - 1943)
Sibling	Fred Gerdes Zimmerman (1877 - )
Sibling	Ahrend Gerdes Zimmerman (1878 - 1913)
Sibling	Mino Gerdes "Henry" Zimmerman (1881 - 1949)
Sibling	Hieska Katherine Gerdes "Kate" Zimmerman (1886 - 1940)

Notes