Gerald J. Zimmerman 87 of O’Fallon and formerly of Trenton died Friday August 19, 2005 at O’Fallon Health Care Center

 He was born January 4, 1918 in Madison County, IL to Nicholas and Caroline (Voegele) Zimmerman and the step-son of Johanna (Mattern) Zimmerman: they preceded him in death

 Also preceded him in death by brothers Clarence Zimmerman and sisters Caroline Zimmerman and Elvira Patterson 

He married Marie Bechtoldt September 22, 1943 at St. Peters Cathedral in Belleville: she survives in O’Fallon

 Also surviving are daughters Ruth Ann (Walt) Spihlman of Trenton, Mary Ellen (Lloyd) Murphey of Foristell, MO, Judy (Jerry) Schachner of O’Fallon, Joan (Michael) Stanfill of Vienna

 16 Grandchildren, Denise Spihlman, Craig (Angela) Spihlman, Tim (Jen) Spihlman, Jeni Spihlman, Patrick (Melissa) Murphey, Michael (Laura) Murphey, Mary Murphey, Rebecca (Scott) French, Donald (Debbie) Schachner, Deborah Schachner, Janice (Gary) Gaubatz, Susan (Scott) Biggerstaff, Daniel Schachner, Christopher (Erica) Stanfill, Melissa (Matt) Harris, Sarah Stanfill

 12 great grandchildren Josh and Hannah Frerker, Erica, Erin, Allison, Adam, Nick Spihlman, Ethan Stanfill, Zachary, Kelsey and Alex French, Tyler Biggerstaff 

Sisters Marie Sommers of Highland, Delores (Joseph) Bechtoldt of Mascoutah

 Gerald was a retried farmer and carpenter 

Member of St. Mary Catholic church in Trenton, Holy Name sodality and past president, Trenton Knights of Columbus Council 2932 and past grand knight, 4^th Degree Bishop Althoff 

Assembly, Summerfield Lions Club and past president, Trenton Senior Citizens past president and Mater Dei High Fathers and Friends Club, St. Clair County Farm Bureau

 Funeral Mass will be held on Monday August 22, at 10:30 am at St. Nicholas Catholic church in O’Fallon with Fr. William Hitpas officiating Interment St, Mary Cemetery in Trenton

 Visitation will be held on Sunday August 21 from 4 to 9 PM and on Monday August 22 from 8:30 am to time of service at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in O’Fallon  

Memorials can be made to AWE Foundation-Library Fund, Mater Dei high School, St. Mary Church, Heartland Hospice and will be received through Moss Funeral home in Trenton who is handling the arrangements