Esther M. Zellmer

Esther M. Zellmer, age 97, Mankato, died Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 7, 2019, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Mankato. A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Loyola Catholic Schools, VINE, or donor's choice.

Esther was born April 16, 1922 to Naiff and Frances “Fannie” (Abdo) Rstom in Mankato, Minnesota. Esther was raised in a home on Second Avenue. Esther was united in marriage to Walter J. Zellmer on March 20, 1945 while Wally was home on leave from the Navy. Esther and Wally met while working at Mocol’s Trucking and Grocery.

Esther worked most of her adult life in the grocery business, working many years at Goettl’s Grocery, formally located in lower North Mankato. Esther loved to volunteer. She was active at SS Peter and Paul serving lunch, a member of Catholic Daughters and managing funeral meals. She served as a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary. Esther enjoyed working with the elderly. She was a frequent volunteer at Oaklawn, VINE, and Pathstone and always stopped at the hospital to visit the sick. Esther didn’t need to know you to visit. She had a gift of relating to people. Esther’s greatest joy was being with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Esther graduated from Good Counsel Academy in 1939, recently celebrating her 80th class reunion. She was one of the last surviving members of her class.

Esther is survived by her children and their families: daughter, Sandra (Allen) Griffith from Fairfax, Virginia, granddaughters, Krista Griffith and Lauri (Barry) Huitema, and great-grandchildren, Thomas and Grace; son, Gary (Mary) Zellmer, granddaughter, Jessica (Nathan) Kirschner, and great-grandchildren, Collin and Charlotte, and granddaughter, Amy Zellmer; son, Randy (Sandra) Zellmer, granddaughter, Alysha (Brad) Smook, and great-grandchildren, Drew, Eric, and Maria, and granddaughter, Nichole Zellmer; son, Steven Zellmer, and former daughter-in-law, Sharon, grandson, Matthew (Jeni) Zellmer, great-grandchildren, Ari and Avery, granddaughter, Sara Zellmer and great-grandson, Noah; son, John (Jody) Zellmer, grandsons, Sam Zellmer, Alex (Hannah) Zellmer and Max Zellmer; sisters, Delores Weimer, Virginia Kruse, Carol Schefter; sister-in-law, Jeanette Rstom; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wally Zellmer; son, Joseph Zellmer, granddaughters, Holly and Heather Zellmer; brothers, George Rstom, Herbert Rstom and his wife, Donna Rstom; brothers-in-law, Robert Weimer, Dennis Kruse, Joe Schefter, Harry Zellmer and his wife, Rose; sisters-in-law, Della Haefner and her husband, Ralph; Florence Evans and her husband, Maury.

Esther’s family would like to thank the staff at Mayo Health Systems for their care and compassion making her last days comfortable and a special thank you to everyone at New Perspectives, as they made Esther feel at home.