Arlene Estelle Zimmerman

ARLENE ESTELLE ZIMMERMAN

Arlene Estelle Zimmerman passed away on May 31, 2024 at the age of 78 following a long, courageous battle with Lewy Body dementia. Arlene Estelle was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 3,1946 to Rita Rue & Wayne Morgan who made their home on the family farm in Brooklyn Center. Arlene was number 4 of 5 siblings, a brother and three sisters, who enjoyed running barefoot and riding horses, Stormy and Streak, bareback around the farm. She married James Marshall Zimmerman, the love of her life, on October 1,1962.

They started their family with the birth of a baby girl, Shari, followed by Ram, Tirzah, and Benjiman, over the next decade. Arlene’s greatest joy in life was being a mother. She frequently stated throughout her life it was her greatest decision, often referring to her children as her four living sculptures.

During her years as a young mother, she found and nurtured her strong relationship with Jesus Christ. She began to share her faith everywhere she went, God’s light reflecting in all she did and all she created. Arlene walked by faith and trusted in God above all.

In addition to being a brilliant mother, Arlene had an abundance of other talents. A seamstress, a baker, a dancer, and a natural on the bongos, she always lived with a creative eye and enthusiastic spirit. Despite her many titles, I think we all know her biggest passion was art. Arlene was an artist, in every sense of the word. She was always driven to create, once stating, “I want to create to reflect truth and glorify God, that is my heart’s desire.”

As her children grew up, she went back to school at Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Arlene quickly began to favor working with bronze and stone carving. Developing a strong, original style, Arlene created sincere pieces exemplifying heartache, strength, and love, often framed within her most consistent theme; women.

She is survived in life by her loving husband of 61 years James Zimmerman, and her four “living sculptures,” Shari (Ben) Walsh, Ram Zimmerman (Tina Brackins), Tirzah Zimmerman, Benjiman (Alexandra) Zimmerman, along with her eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren, and her sisters, Sally Mayo and Jaye Rogers.

Arlene is preceded in death by her parents Wayne Orville and Rita Rue Morgan, along with her brother William Morgan and sister Gerry Adele Meyers.

“Free at last, home at last! Hallelujah!” - Arlene Estelle Zimmerman (1946 - 2024)

life story

ARTIST

In her words, “I found my voice, it is sculpture!”

memorial service

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

August 26, 2024

Westwood Community Church 3121 Westwood Dr, Excelsior, MN 55331, USA

Visitation at 10am

Service at 11am

Luncheon to follow

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Westwood Community Church