Gertrude Salona Zingelman

Gertrude “Gert” Salona Zingelman…

was born on March 25, 1919 to Garrett and Edith (Ackerman) Heidebrink on a farm near Rushmore, Minnesota where she was raised and attended country school. Upon completion of her education, she helped on the family farm and she also worked for the neighbors. On December 15, 1938, she was united in marriage to Donald “Tommy” Zingelman in Woodstock, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm in Murray County. In 1945, they moved to a farm north of Woodstock. They later purchased a farm northwest of Woodstock. During this time, Gert worked right alongside Tommy with the farm chores. She milked cows, raised chickens, geese, pigs, sheep and turkeys. She helped in the fields driving the tractor. Every year she also raised a big vegetable garden. In 1972, they retired from farming and moved to Holland, Minnesota. Tommy preceded her in death on May 12, 2007. After his death, Gert continued to live in their home in Holland. She passed away peacefully at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at the age of 97 years, six months and four days.

While living on the farm, Gert was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Woodstock where she was a Sunday School teacher and served as president of the Ladies Aid for eight years. When they moved to Holland in 1972, she became a member of St. James Lutheran Church. She was instrumental in starting the Senior Citizens Center in Holland, and she was a member of the Holland Senior Citizens where she served as the president for eight years. She was an avid card player and loved the game of pinochle. She especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play fast pitch softball.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Margret Kor of Holland, Minnesota, Darwin Zingelman and his wife Janet of Ruthton, Minnesota, and Donald Zingelman and his wife Gwen of Bridgewater, South Dakota; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; five step great-grandchildren; one brother, Marvin Heidebrink and his wife Caroline of Holland, Minnesota; one sister, Darlene Carpenter and her husband Bill of Lake Benton, Minnesota and one sister-in-law, Arlene Heidebrink of Pipestone, Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her husband; two grandsons, Kim Zingelman and Adam Zingelman; one son-in-law, Darvin Kor; her parents; three brothers; and three sisters.