Obituary Dr. Rev. Gustav A. ZIMMERMANN Cook County, Illinois ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information contributed for use in Cook County ILGenWeb Archives by Pastor Dr. G.A. Zimmermann "As for man, his days are as grass As a flower of the field,so he flourisheth For the wind passeth over it and it is gone " (Psalm103, v15,16) "Thunder and lightning can strike, even from a cloudless sky." Today, Chicago is still numbed by that thunderclap on the 5th of January, and still the loving heart is unable to comprehend that Dr. Zimmermann has died. As recently as New Year's morning he stood, the intelligent preacher and beloved spiritual caretaker at the local evangelical [Protestant] Johannes parish (church), the pride of Chicago's German community, full of enthusiasm and vitality, and preached from his place of honour about God's love and the eternal divine truths which our soul, born of eternity, yearns for - on Thursday he was still wearing his priests' vestments, and by Monday he was wrapped in a shroud - who can comprehend it? Here, finite spirit, know an (the) infinite God! Here, son of the earth, tremble before the omnipotence of your God! O human child, be prudent and --- pious: soon you too will be at peace ---. Dr. Gustav Adolph Zimmermann was born in Basel on the 20th of February, 1850. In Switzerland he achieved an outstanding high-school and academic education: his major subjects were Theology and Philosophy. In 1869 he came to America and entered the Melanchthon Seminary of the old Northwestern Synod, at which institution he shortly afterwards became an assistant teacher. After that he moved to Chicago and, working as an assistant preacher at the St Paul's church he found in Joseph Hartmann, the former parish pastor, his spiritual father and mentor. After a short time studying at German Universities, and receiving his Doctorate at Berlin, he returned to America to serve at the Markus Parish church in Buffalo, then worked as a professor at the Elmhurst proseminary, and finally returned to Chicago in 1877. Here he founded the "Deutsche Warte" (German view-point), functioning as its editor, and held various positions in the public school service, ultimately that of Superintendent for Modern Language teaching. The deceased was also especially well-versed in the field of world history. Various examples of his works, especially those concerning the French revolution, Napoleon and Bismarck, were widely disseminated. In short Dr. Zimmermann, who was taken too soon, enjoyed a far-reaching reputation as an educationalist, a philosopher, a preacher and a writer, and his sudden departure will arouse grief and lamentation in the widest circles. The deceased, whose well-educated faithful companion died four years earlier, leaves behind four children, two sons and two daughters. The ceremonial funeral took place on Wednesday, the 7th of January. After a short funeral service in the house, led by Pastor em(eritus?) Philipp Klein, the exquisitely adorned coffin was driven to the church. Thousands awaited the wanderer "on his final path". When the coffin was opened for the last time, not a single eye was without tears - between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. the friends of the deceased and members of the parish, numbering thousands, were once more able to gaze upon the beloved features of their departed friend and spiritual care-taker. At 1 p.m. the uplifting funeral service began in the Johannes parish church. The altar service was taken by colleagues Pastor Philipp Klein, Professor J. L"uder and [Pr"ases] K. Krafft. Pastor Gotthilf Lambrecht from the local St. Peters church gave a deeply moving, heartrending sermon based on Psalm 90,v1: "Lord God, thou art our refuge for ever". When the last word of the God-gifted preacher and friend of the deceased had died away, the children's choir of the Johannes parish church, under the direction of Mr Theodor Scheerer the well-proven parish organist, started to sing, and in the softest pianissimo it sounded like angel song from above: "How peacefully they rest, all the blessed ones".- The earthly remains of the deceased were laid to rest by the side of his beloved wife in the "Graceland" cemetery. Pastor Philipp Klein prayed at the graveside and gave the Lord's blessing. But we, the colleagues and friends of the early departed, stand today at his graveside and pray to God from the depths of our hearts: Heavenly Father, send fortification and peace to the weeping children, the orphans! May our ancient hearts' wish and prayer come to pass: to you, who have been a faithful servant of the Lord, to you, genuine disciple of the true art and sublime knowledge, may the merciful God grant eternal salvation by (his) grace, through Christ our Lord! C.F Weisse P(astor?) source: photocopy of original in German sent to me by: Eden Archives (Ev. & Ref. Church: United Church of Christ) 475 East Lockwood Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63119-3192 translation by: Dick Kaulfuss _________________________________________________________________ [?] 11-15-78, p171 Referring to Gustav Zimmermann, Sophia's nephew For health considerations which forbid him from any loud talking and [public] speaking for the next few years, [he says] he has had to resign, with great regret, from his office in Buffalo, and that he has taken on a calling as Superintendent of the Public School(s) German department(s) and as editor-in- chief of the "Deutsche Warte" in Chicago. (Sept 20 1878) ("Deutsche Warte" was filmed by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) source: photocopy of original in German sent to me by: Eden Archives (Ev. & Ref. Church: United Church of Christ) 475 East Lockwood Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63119-3192 translation by: Dick Kaulfuss _________________________________________________________________ books written by: Author:Zimmermann, Gustav Adolf, 1850-1903 Title:Deutsch in Amerika. Beiträge zur Geschichte der deutsch-amerikanischen Literatur, von dr. G. A. Zimmermann. I. Episch-lyrische Poesie. Hrsg. vom "Germania Männerchor" in Chicago. 2., verb. und durch einen Nachtrag verm. Aufl.Publisher:Chicago, Eyller & Company, 1892.Description:xlvi, 265, 58 p. ports. 18 cm.Notes:No more published.Language:GermanSubjects:German American literature-- History and criticismGerman-American poetryOther entries:Germania Männerchor ed. To locate:Holdings for:UCSB Author:Zimmermann, Gustav Adolf, 1850-1903 Title:Ephesos im ersten christlichen Jahrhundert. Ein Beitrag zur Neutestamentlichen Zeitgeschichte, von Gustav Ad. Zimmermann. Publisher:Leipzig, F.A. Brockhaus, 1874.Description:157 p. map. Notes:On reel 279 beginning frame no. 441.Microfilm (negative). Cincinnati, Ohio: Assured Micro-Services, 1983. 1 reel; 16 mm. (University of Cincinnati dissertations, Programmschriften, and pamphlets in classical studies. no. 11943)Language:GermanTo locate:Holdings for:CRL Author:Zimmermann, Gustav Adolf, 1850-1903 Title:Unser Krieg mit Spanien : nach den besten Quellen dargestellt / von G. A. Zimmermann. Publisher:Milwaukee : G. Brumder, 1900.Description:xiii, 306 p., [2] leaves of plates : ill., facsim., maps, ports. ; 22 cm. Language:GermanSubjects:United States--History--War with Mexico, 1845-1848--Campaigns. To locate:Holdings for:CRL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and must contact the listed Cook County ILGenWeb Coordinator(s) with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Angel Jacobsen-Shweika (CookILGW@jacobsen-shweika.com) or Sharon Dickson (TISZADADA@aol.com) for archive information. ©1999, Angel Jacobsen-Shweika and Sharon Dickson