Raymond Zimmermann

Raymond Lynn Zimmermann, academic adviser and Lutheran minister, died Thursday, March 24, at the age of 84.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m., Monday, March 28, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Rehburg, with Pastor Denise Seymour officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel.
He was born September 18, 1931, at Port Arthur, Texas, the son of Lee and Ella Zimmermann. He graduated in 1949 from Nederland High School in Nederland, Texas.
He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1953 from Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, and a Master of Divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary and a Master of Education degree from Texas A&M University in 1977.
He was ordained July 28, 1957 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Port Arthur, Texas, and he accepted a call to Rehburg and was installed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on August 17, 1957. He served as secretary of the Brenham Pastoral Conference, East Central ALC Conference and on the District Stewardship committee. He served at St. Paul until 1965, when he accepted a call to the First Lutheran Church at Floresville, Texas, where he served until 1968.
Lynn continued as a supply preacher while working at other pursuits, including his university academic advising career.
He married Carra Elizabeth Hohlt of Burton, Texas, on April 16, 1961.
Lynn spent his lifetime advising and counseling, from the ministry to the university level. He advised students in the College of Business at Texas A&M for 25 years before "retiring" and advising students another 10 years at Blinn College at its campuses in Bryan and Brenham, Texas.
Lynn was a compassionate, thoughtful and inspiring advisor who worked tirelessly for Texas A&M students, and he provided guidance to the Business Student Council for many years. He organized business career fairs and spent his summers advising incoming students.
He received the John J. Koldus Faculty/Staff Achievement Award for 1992 in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the welfare and well-being of the students of Texas A&M University. He also received the Ed Guthrie Advisor Award in 1994 and the prestigious Faculty/Staff Distinguished Achievement Award in Student Relations from the TAMU Association of Former Students in 1996. Lynn also edited a College of Business publication, "The Texas Business Executive," for 10 years.
Lynn's passion for many years was getting groups of singers together to form choirs, including student choirs at Texas A&M and Blinn. He led church choirs for many years and shared his love of music with many young people as well as his children and grandchildren.
He loved reading to his children and grandchildren, sharing books and stories with them, and could be coaxed into participating in many types of games. He achieved a long-time dream with the publication of his book "How to Wake Up and Let Your Dreams Come True", a collection of his stories and life lessons.
Survivors include his wife, Carra Zimmermann of Burton; children, Rebeca Zimmermann and husband Donn Friedman, Jennifer Zimmermann and Jeffrey Zimmermann and wife Yvonne Zimmermann; grandchildren, Zev Friedman, Justin Zimmermann, Lauren Zimmermann, Ali Roberts, Eli Friedman, Rachel Zimmermann, Jaycee Seago, Jeffrey Zimmermann and Jace Zimmermann. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Harold and Melrose Zimmermann and brother and sister-in-law Jimmy and Gerry Zimmermann; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law Pastor Dan and Evelyn Zimmermann, his brother-in-law Elmer Hohlt and his brother- and sister-in-law Marvin and Charlene Hohlt.
Pallbearers are Lynn's grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are the St. Paul Lutheran Church Choir members, the staff of Hospice Brazos Valley, and the former members of TAMU Business Student Council.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Rehburg or Hospice Brazos Valley.

For those wanting to make a gift in his memory they can do so by sending it to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840. They just need to indicate that their gift is for the Lynn Zimmermann Endowed Scholarship, account number 04-33748.

Funeral arrangements for Raymond Lynn Zimmermann are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.

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