Susan Zimmerman

Susan Luella Zimmerman was born March 2, 1915 to Jacob Henry and Sarah Elizabeth (Pfeiffer) Zimmerman on the family farm north of Simpson, Kansas. Also born to the family were three sisters, Iva May, Hester Ann, Bessie Katherine, and one brother, William Walter. She passed away peacefully on June 11, 2019 after a long life of 104 years and 3 months.

Susan attended District 82 (Cottonwood Grove) school in Cloud County from 1920-1928 and Simpson Rural High School from 1928-1932 graduating as valedictorian. At 17 years of age, she began teaching with a High School Normal Training certificate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Emporia State Teachers College and a Master of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Denver.

Susan had a teaching career that spanned 47 years. She taught 14 years in Country Schools in Cloud and Mitchell counties, 11 years teaching second grade at Beloit Elementary and worked 22 years in Speech and Language Therapy in Beloit.

Neither Susan nor any of her siblings ever married. She devoted most of her time to her students and stayed in touch with many of them.

Susan was a charter member of the Beloit Church of Christ. Her faith was very important to her. She spent time reading from her Bible several times a day, even until the last few days of her life.

Susan lived on the family farm for 88 years with her brother, Walter, from the day she was born until 2003 when it became too difficult for them to maintain. They then moved into town to live with their sister Kathrine. Kathrine passed away in 2005 followed by Walter in 2007. She continued to live on her own until October 2011 when she moved to the Resident Care Center of Mitchell County Hospital.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Iva, Hester and Kathrine; and brother Walter. She is survived by cousins Ladeanna Twaddell, Doug and Jill Twaddell and their children, Tanya Twaddell, Joyce (Birdsell) Salmon and family, Warren Birdsell and family, Betty (Birdsell) Rotan and family, Suzette (Birdsell) Giles and family and many other cousins.

Graveside services will be at 11 AM Saturday, June 15 at the Summitt Cemetery near Scottsville. Visitation will be from 1-6 PM Friday at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Beloit Church of Christ.