Anna Marie Bertha Zimmerman

Anna Marie B. Zimmerman, 93, of Portland, OR, ascended to Heaven on Thursday, January 11, 2024 surrounded by family. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church with burial following at Willamette National Cemetery.

Born, Anna Mary Bertha Hoffarth, the fifth of sixteen children, to Vincent Paul & Anna Mary (Busch) Hoffarth, on December 14, 1930, in Alexander Township, Pierce County, North Dakota (SW of Esmond). Raised on the family farm, homesteaded in 1899 by her grandparents, she helped with farming, feeding the animals, milking the cows, haying, threshing with horses and later with a WD-30 tractor. Anna Mary attended Strasburg Schools and later Esmond High School. Anna Mary was proud of her German from Russia heritage, her father born in Mannheim, Kutschugan, Odessa, South Russia now known as the Ukraine, and her mother's family from Katherinental, Berean, Odessa, South Russia and her father in-law from Landau, Berean, Odessa, South Russia and her mother-in-law’s family from Selz, Kutschurgan, Odessa, South Russia.

Anna Mary married on May 26, 1949 to Estagen Zimmerman in El Paso, TX by the Justice of the Peace, where he was stationed at Fort Bliss Army Military Base. They later had their marriage blessed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Knox, ND. They lived in El Paso, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, while her husband was in the service, and then returned to North Dakota living in Minot, Big Bend, Sitka, Riverdale, Selz and then purchased a farm in Hillside Township, Pierce Co., ND, there they milked and raised Black Angus cattle and farmed until 1965. Anna Mary and her husband with eight children and the ninth one on the way, were on their way to California. They stopped in Portland to visit relatives and decided to stay, where daughter, Julie, was born. Anna Marie always said she was so glad they stayed in Portland.

You will not find in Anna Marie's obituary a litany of education accomplishments nor leadership roles in organizations or businesses. Her accomplishments were on a much nobler level. Anna Marie brought nine children into this world and proudly watched their achievements. In that ordinary role as a mother, she had an extraordinary life and left an indelible legacy of love, kindness, and a sense of unselfish devotion to all her children and grandchildren. She often said, “I’m so glad I had my nine children. They are all so good to me.” Anna Marie cherished her parents, sisters, brothers, and all of her family. With nine children, it kept her very busy with household duties: cooking, canning, cleaning, laundry and sewing making clothes. She often got compliments on how well her children were dressed and behaved. Anna Marie especially enjoyed preparing delicious German meals for her family gatherings. She was an excellent cook and worked so hard preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Holidays were a feast of delicious food and desserts. After her husband got hurt at work and became disabled, Anna Marie worked for Van Duyn's Candy Store at Lloyd Center Mall for more than 12 years where she advanced to Assistant Manager. Customers would tell her, if they didn't see her in the store they wouldn't go in.

Anna Marie loved to do word search and jigsaw puzzles, but her favorite thing was playing aggravation…the last decade she played every day for hours and even played by herself if no one else was available.

Anna Marie loved God, was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. As her health declined, she felt so bad if she missed mass. Anna Marie prayed every day, multiple times, for her husband, parents, in-laws, sisters, brothers, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many special friends. She admired her grandmother’s dedication to God. She often spoke of staying with her grandmother when she was in third grade, to help care for her by cleaning, bringing in water and coal, and helping her go to daily mass.

We take great comfort in knowing that she entered eternal life and is resting in the hands of the Lord. Her husband, Estagen, preceded her on October 2, 2011 and is now reunited with him for eternal time. We feel very blessed to have been given the time shared with her. Anna Marie's kind, gentle and caring spirit will be greatly missed by her family. She holds a special place in the hearts of her family and friends. Her love of her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, parents, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews were beyond measure. Everyone was always welcomed with open arms.

Sons (3): Michael Zimmerman and Vincent Zimmerman both of Portland, OR, and Estagen Zimmerman of Esmond, ND. Daughters (6): Anna Marie (Larry) Rose of Sun City, AZ, Barbara Zimmerman and Mary Lou Zimmerman both of Portland, OR, Susan (Dennis) Boyce of Hebo, OR, Celine (Patrick) Williams of Chandler, AZ, and Julie (Phillip Pollock) Zimmerman of Tigard, OR. Welcomed like a son in-law Ronald James, Sr. of Portland, OR. Sisters: Bernadine (Robert) Mittelbach of Camas, WA, Sophia (Frederick) Berkley of Kulm, ND, Rosa (Raymond) Hager of Portland, OR, and Nadine Appelt (Mick Wirth) of Fairview, OR. In-laws: Norman Zimmerman and Ruth Zimmerman both of Vancouver, WA, Helen Ellefson of Menomonie, WI, and many nieces and nephews.

Grandchildren (24): Sara Jordan, Larry Rose, Gregory Zimmerman, Mahriah Zimmerman, Rachael Zimmerman, Audrey Zimmerman, Estagen James, Christopher (Julie) Zimmerman, Alisha Zimmerman, James Zimmerman, Keith (Stacy) Zimmerman, Melissa Sherman, Ronald James, Jr., Ashley (Ly) Do, Caitlyn Zimmerman, Courtney (Darin) Loucks, Alexis Zimmerman, Brayden Zimmerman, Brandon (Betty) Boyce, Joshua (Kelsey) Boyce, Adam Botel, Brittany (Nickolas) North, Brian Williams, and Kyle Williams.

Great Grandchildren (32): Lukas Jordan, Oliver Jordan, Vaughn Jordan, Myquel Zimmerman, Justise Zimmerman, Lord Lawrence, Alexis Hayes, Jeremiah Harris, Legend Harris, Gabrielle Thornton, Baylee Zimmerman, Estagen Zimmerman, Jacob Zimmerman, Harper Zimmerman, Cadence Reed, Harlow Zimmerman, Sephora Zimmerman, Kamren Zimmerman, Sophia Zimmerman, Jackson Laib, Brielle Sherman, Kynlee Keller, Jordan Do, Lakely Do, Mason Loucks, Logan Loucks, Landon Boyce, Ava Boyce, Renlee Boyce, Bentley North, Jason Williams, and Oliver Williams.

Great-Great Grandchildren (2): Griffin Perez and Giovanni Juarez-Reed

Preceded in death by: Estagen Zimmerman (husband); Estagen James Zimmerman (Grandson); Vincent and Anna Mary (Busch) Hoffarth (Parents), Michael and Anna (Goldade) Zimmerman (In-laws); Vincent I. P. Hoffarth, James J. Hoffarth, Vincent F. (Lillian Barrett) Hoffarth (Brothers); Angeline (Anton) Schneider, Wilhelmina (Alvin) Sundeen, Delores K. Hoffarth, Isabelle Harris, Regina (Alton) Johnson, Helen (Francis) Bingham, Lydia J. Hoffarth, Stella (Martin) Kuntz (Sisters); Eli Zimmerman, Conrad J. (Anna Marie Gefroh) Zimmerman, Regina (John) Schreurs, Linda Severson Zimmerman, Joseph M. Zimmerman, Anna Margaret Zimmerman, Agnes Mary Zimmerman, Curtis Ellefson, Wilfred Muscha, and Lawrence Appelt (In-laws).