Rev. William Eugene Zimmermann

Rev. William Eugene Zimmermann, 73, of Nuremberg, went to be with his Lord, late Tuesday evening, February 18, 2025, at his residence in Nuremberg, following four years of living with liver cancer. 

Born in Clark, NJ, July 17, 1951, he was the son of the late William Henry and Hazel May (Hutchison) Zimmermann. After retiring from his last congregation in 2019 he returned to Nuremberg to enjoy living in his beloved Nuremberg Bank building. He had worked diligently with various contractors to restore this 100 year old property for the seven years prior to moving in. 

Bill graduated from Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, Clark, NJ class of 1969.  He received his bachelor's degree in English from East Stroudsburg University and his Master of Divinity from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. 

Bill was a Lutheran pastor for 41 years having been ordained February 4, 1984.  He was the pastor of the Nuremberg Zion Grove Lutheran Parish from 1983 to 1991, Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville from 1991 to 2003, Advent Lutheran Church, West Lawn from 2003 to 2008, Faith Lutheran Church, Hillsborough, NJ from 2008 until he retired in 2019.  After retirement he served as a supply pastor for many churches including Christ Lutheran Church, Hazleton where he was a member and pastor-in-residence.

Bill was a past member of the Nuremberg Community Players.  He served the wider church through involvement on multiple boards and committees including the Lutheran Welfare Service of Northeastern PA where he was on the board of directors and served as chairman of the board. He also served on several committees and task forces for NEPA Synod, and was a Lutheran Youth Fellowship Advisor for NEPA Synod.

Bill was an enormous reader and collector of books and loved designing his library in the converted bank that he lived in.  He loved his New York Mets as well as the Giants and the Knicks. Bill made every effort to attend Mets events and has a collection of memorabilia from the players of the '69 World Series. Bill loved tulips and always had hundreds of bulbs planted awaiting spring. In his younger years he worked for the Terry Lou Zoo in Scotch Plains, NJ and remained an animal rights advocate ever since.

Surviving are his loving wife, the former Cindy Lea Berger, to whom he was married on April 21, 1985, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Ringtown, three daughters, Laurel Frigm and her husband Rev. Cristopher Frigm, Kathleen Zimmermann and her husband James VanDyke,  and Jacquelin Johnson and her husband Dr. Michael Johnson; five grandchildren, Cole and Sydney Frigm, 2nd Lieutenant Carter Tatara, and Tyler and Ryan VanDyke; a sister, Nancy Brannagan and her husband Joseph; mother-in-law, Lana Jean Klesh; sister-in-law, Kelly Fegley and her husband Jason; brother-in-law, Scott Klesh;  many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins. He is sadly missed by his loyal dogs, Rascal and Lily; and his cats, Sunny, Charlie and Alice.  

His funeral will be held March 1, 2025, at 10:30 AM in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 467 S Main St, Conyngham, PA 18219.  Burial will follow in Nuremberg Cemetery, Nuremberg. Friends may call at the church, on Friday February 28, from 1 PM- 3 PM and from 5 PM - 7 PM.  Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (West), 1265 Rock Glen Rd, Rock Glen is assisting the family with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Make checks payable to ELCA World Hunger, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009 or online at www.give.elca.org; or to People In Need Fund, C/O Emmanuel UCC Church, PO Box 232, Nuremberg PA 18241; or to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center Attn: Development Department, 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, NJ 07940 or online at www.sthuberts.org/donate or to Seafarers International House online at www.sihnyc.org/donate . Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. William Eugene Zimmermann, please visit our floral store.