Martha Fay Zimmermann, who has been involved in parish ministry for years at different parishes in the Diocese of Davenport, will celebrate her 100th birthday April 18.
An open house will be held from 1-5 p.m. at the Lutheran Home’s Cottage, 2421 Lutheran Dr., in Muscatine.
Zimmerman was born in Idaho and traveled across the West in a covered wagon, living in both a dugout and sod house, said her daughter, Sarah Howard. Eventually the family settled in Milwaukee.
After the Great Depression, the family moved to Davenport and then to Stockton where they lived for 37 years and attended St. Mary Parish in Wilton. There, Zimmerman was active in the Altar and Rosary Society, choir, cleaned the church and taught catechism to second-graders preparing for first Communion.
During the mid 1970s, she worked as a cook and housekeeper at Holy Family Parish in Davenport. She also worked for the Homemakers Service a part of the Visiting Nurses Association.
Moving to Iowa City, Zimmerman worked as a cook at Alpha Chi Omega Sorority House for approximately 10 years. St. Patrick’s was her parish in Iowa City for more than 30 years. While there she participated in eucharistic adoration ministry, the NAIM Society and Catholic Daughters.
She moved to Muscatine when she was 98 and is now associated with Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish through their services at the nursing home.
Zimmerman will be honored with a papal blessing arranged through the diocesan office, as well as letters of congratulations from the current and former U.S. presidents and the presence of family and friends.
