Father Nicholas Zimmer, 89, died Nov. 6 at Elmhurst Commons in Braham. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Braham. Visitation will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Father Robert Rolfes, vicar general, presiding.
Burial will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Braham. (Due to CDC recommendations, face masks are required at the services. The Mass will be livestreamed – see below for information.)
Father Nicholas Matthew Zimmer was born Dec. 9, 1930, in Belgrade, to Nicholas and Kathryn (Pletschett) Zimmer. He was baptized at St. Francis DeSales Church in Belgrade on Dec. 11, 1930. He attended Belgrade Public Grade School, Crosier Seminary in Onamia and St. John’s Seminary in Collegeville. Father Zimmer was ordained by Bishop Peter Bartholome at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud on June 1, 1957. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Francis De Sales Church in Belgrade on June 2, 1957. He was a priest of the diocese for 63 years.
He served in the following pastoral assignments in the Diocese of St. Cloud: associate pastor at St. Mary in Little Falls; associate chaplain at Newman Center in St. Cloud; pastor at St. Mary, Chokio; St. Pius X, Zimmerman; and founding pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul in Braham.
Father Zimmer also served for a number of years on the diocesan tribunal, the Presbyteral Council and as dean of the Princeton Deanery. He retired July 1, 2001. After his retirement, he continued to serve at Sts. Peter and Paul and in the community of Braham.
Father Zimmer was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters: Benedictine Sister Kathryn (Marguerite), Mary Maudal, Benedictine Sister Alard (Bernadette) and Dorothy Zimmer. He is survived by his niece, Ann Maudal; nephews: Claude (Rita) Maudal, Michael (Cindy) Maudal; great-nieces and nephews: Kaye Huyink, Rachel (Quehan) Uyoo, Ethan (Jenessa) Maudal, and Molly Maudal; great-great-niece Freya Maudal; as well as many friends.
Online condolences may be sent through Rock-Ingebrand Funeral Home in Braham at www.aifuneralhome.com. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://youtube.com/channel/UCU8tiqIiI18jQthEd53uYiA.