November 2016
Richard Allan (Al) Zimmer was called home on November 9, 2016. He was 86.
Al Zimmer was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He attended Saskatchewan Teachers College in Moose Jaw, 1950-51, and taught in a one-room school in Markinch, Saskatchewan. He was encouraged to attend Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, and graduated from there in 1954. He served as teacher and then principal at Lynwood Lutheran School in California, 1954-1959. In 1959, he accepted the call as principal at St. Paul, Skokie, and finished his master’s degree. In 1968, he became assistant professor of education at Concordia Teacher’s College (now Concordia University Chicago), in River Forest, Illinois, and, in 1972, completed his Doctor of Education degree at Loyola University Chicago.
Besides instructing many elementary teachers and administrators, he became one of the early advocates to help cast a vision for early childhood ministry at Concordia. He served in many capacities within the College of Education at Concordia including as full professor, department chair, dean of the College of Education and eventually as dean of academics for the university.
Upon his retirement from Concordia, in 1995, he was honored by the faculty and Board of Regents with the Distinguished Professor of Education Award. After retiring, he served the Northern Illinois District as commissioner for National Lutheran School Accreditation.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, sons and daughters-in-law Mark and Ivonne, Marty and Lois, and Michael and Jeni, eight grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Delores Charuk, and grandson Jacob Peter Zimmer.
Visitation will be on Saturday, November 19, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1025 W. Lake St., Melrose Park, IL 60160, starting at 9:30 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. with light refreshments and fellowship following the service.