FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOMES SINCE 1881
| Gerda R. Zimmermann |
| July 29, 1930 - May 21, 2026 |
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Public Events and LocationsMemorial Gathering - Sunday, June 7, 2026, 3:00 PM at Vereinigung Erzgebirge, Warminster |
ContactsFuneral Home - Wetzel and Son Funeral Home - 419 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046 - 215-663-8550 - Map |
| Clergy - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church - 1749 South Main Street, Bechtelsville, PA 19505 - 610-369-1281 - Map |
| Family Florist - Domenic Graziano Flowers & Gifts - 73 York Road, Warminster, PA 18974 - 215-355-1550 - Map |
| Donation - Vereinigung Erzgebirge - 130 Davisville Road, Warminster, PA 18974 - 215-675-5380 - Map |
Gerda R. Zimmermann of Southampton, Pennsylvania passed away Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Jefferson Abington Hospital. She was 95 years old. Gerda was born July 29, 1930 in Neu Bienitz, Germany, daughter of the late Rudolph Jakob and the late Klara Jakob (nee - Altmann). She is the beloved wife of the late Karl H. Zimmermann; mother of Rüdiger Zimmermann (Jenneth), Peter Zimmermann (Lisa) and Heidi Yescavage (Kurt); grandmother of Jason and Travis (Gina) Zimmermann, Megan O’Malley (Brendan) and Laura Cooney (Bryan) and Bradley Yescavage; great grandmother of Cameron, Jaxon, Layla, Emma, Ava, and Genevieve; sister of Wolfgang (the late Hannah), the late Guenter (the late Lisa) and the late Roland Jakob (Kristal). Beloved aunt of Rita and Angelika.
Gerda was born in Neu Bienitz, Silesia, Germany on July 29, 1930. She lived there until age 15. In February of 1945 the German citizenry in Silesia were forced to flee to the west as Russian forces advanced into Germany. Gerda, her mother Klara, along with her two brothers, Guenter and Wolfgang, were forced to leave everything behind as they joined the 3 million Germans displaced from Silesia.
Gerda and family settled in Granitz in the State of Saxony and survived the remaining months of WWII. Soon after, her youngest brother Roland was born. Gerda worked for a local farm and later as a nanny for a business women in nearby Freiberg. Gerda met her future husband Karl when he and his family moved to Granitz to take advantage of the offer of land as part of the collective farm system organized by the communist controlled government.
Karl and Gerda married on May 13, 1951, and gave birth to their first child, Rudiger. They helped farm the small collective with Karl’s parents for the next 6 years. In March of 1957, Karl and Gerda fled the “eastern zone” of Germany to seek a better life in the up and coming “western zone”. Gerda found work in a souvenir manufacturing facility and Karl worked at the local sawmill. Karl’s brother Egon, already in the United States, encouraged Gerda and Karl to emigrate to the United States as well. With the help of a sponsorship in the US and a loan from the Lutheran World Relief Organization Gerda, Karl, and Rudiger made the December voyage across the North Atlantic aboard the Swedish Cruise Ship “Gripsholm”
On December 17, 1957, the Gripsholm sailed past the Statue of Liberty and arrived in New York City. Gerda and family moved into the Karl Mackley Apartments in the Juniata neighborhood of Philadelphia. Both found work with Gerda working first as a domestic and later in the Penn Fishing Reels factory alongside her sister-in-law Elfriede.
In 1960 Gerda and Karl welcomed their second son, Peter and soon after, were able to buy their own home in Rhawnhurst. In 1962 their third child, Heidi was born.
Gerda secured work as the Deli Manager at the Bethayers Shop-n-Bag, retired, and later worked part-time at Riekers Deli in Fox Chase. Karl passed in 2008 and in 2019 she moved into the Southampton Estates senior living facility for the remainder of her life.
Gerda loved nature, had an amazing green thumb, had the ability to entice birds to perch on her outstretched finger, and could create a 4 star meal out of leftovers.
Gerda was a member of the Vereinigung Erzgebirge for 68 years, where she enjoyed their amenities and cultivated many friendships. She asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Vereinigung Erzgebirge at 130 Davisville Rd, Warminster, PA 18974.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial gathering on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. at Vereinigung Erzgebirge, 130 Davisville Road, Warminster, PA 18974.
If you are able to attend the memorial gathering please send a message including the number of attendees via the form below by May 31, 2026 so that VE can plan for the proper number of guests.
www.wetzelandson.com
Gerda was born in Neu Bienitz, Silesia, Germany on July 29, 1930. She lived there until age 15. In February of 1945 the German citizenry in Silesia were forced to flee to the west as Russian forces advanced into Germany. Gerda, her mother Klara, along with her two brothers, Guenter and Wolfgang, were forced to leave everything behind as they joined the 3 million Germans displaced from Silesia.
Gerda and family settled in Granitz in the State of Saxony and survived the remaining months of WWII. Soon after, her youngest brother Roland was born. Gerda worked for a local farm and later as a nanny for a business women in nearby Freiberg. Gerda met her future husband Karl when he and his family moved to Granitz to take advantage of the offer of land as part of the collective farm system organized by the communist controlled government.
Karl and Gerda married on May 13, 1951, and gave birth to their first child, Rudiger. They helped farm the small collective with Karl’s parents for the next 6 years. In March of 1957, Karl and Gerda fled the “eastern zone” of Germany to seek a better life in the up and coming “western zone”. Gerda found work in a souvenir manufacturing facility and Karl worked at the local sawmill. Karl’s brother Egon, already in the United States, encouraged Gerda and Karl to emigrate to the United States as well. With the help of a sponsorship in the US and a loan from the Lutheran World Relief Organization Gerda, Karl, and Rudiger made the December voyage across the North Atlantic aboard the Swedish Cruise Ship “Gripsholm”
On December 17, 1957, the Gripsholm sailed past the Statue of Liberty and arrived in New York City. Gerda and family moved into the Karl Mackley Apartments in the Juniata neighborhood of Philadelphia. Both found work with Gerda working first as a domestic and later in the Penn Fishing Reels factory alongside her sister-in-law Elfriede.
In 1960 Gerda and Karl welcomed their second son, Peter and soon after, were able to buy their own home in Rhawnhurst. In 1962 their third child, Heidi was born.
Gerda secured work as the Deli Manager at the Bethayers Shop-n-Bag, retired, and later worked part-time at Riekers Deli in Fox Chase. Karl passed in 2008 and in 2019 she moved into the Southampton Estates senior living facility for the remainder of her life.
Gerda loved nature, had an amazing green thumb, had the ability to entice birds to perch on her outstretched finger, and could create a 4 star meal out of leftovers.
Gerda was a member of the Vereinigung Erzgebirge for 68 years, where she enjoyed their amenities and cultivated many friendships. She asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Vereinigung Erzgebirge at 130 Davisville Rd, Warminster, PA 18974.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial gathering on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. at Vereinigung Erzgebirge, 130 Davisville Road, Warminster, PA 18974.
If you are able to attend the memorial gathering please send a message including the number of attendees via the form below by May 31, 2026 so that VE can plan for the proper number of guests.
www.wetzelandson.com
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