Magdalena was born on January 17, 1929, to George and Theresia (Lovenstein) Zimmerman. She was the youngest of eight children.
She passed away at the age of 97 years and 7 months at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kansas.
Magdalena was born south of Grainfield into a German-speaking family on the family farm. She graduated from Grainfield High School in 1947. She took her first airplane ride while in high school.
She worked a number of jobs in Grainfield before meeting the love of her life, George Uhrich, at Zeman Dance Hall in Collyer. They were married on February 20, 1950, in the St. Agnes Catholic Church basement in Grainfield and lived on a farm north of Collyer.
From this union, three daughters were born: Ruan, Mary Ladd, and Karen.
Magdalena was a dedicated housewife who helped with milking the cows, feeding the pigs, harvesting, driving a tractor, butchering, and anything else that needed to be done. She was active in her church, serving as president of the Altar Society in both Collyer and WaKeeney.
When her daughters were all in school, she volunteered as a Gray Lady at the Long-Term Care facility in Quinter. She was also a news contributor, gathering news around Collyer for the Western Kansas World.
After her husband had a heart attack, she took a job at the Coast-to-Coast store in WaKeeney and later at Duckwalls, until the store closed. When they moved to WaKeeney, they started G&M Crafts, making wooden toys and sewing potholders. She continued making potholders and selling them at the Farmers Market in Hays and at her garage sales in WaKeeney.
She often remarked on how she had lived long enough to witness many changes:
- From her parents emigrating to the United States by ship to the moon landing.
- From a horse-drawn carriage to a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
- From a crank telephone to a rotary phone, and then to cell phones that take pictures.
- From a wringer washing machine to electric washers and dryers.
- From an outhouse to indoor plumbing.
- From rationing during WWII to online shopping 24/7.
- From thrashing machines drawn by horses to 30-foot header combines.
- From gathering wood chips for heating the house to gas furnaces.
Magdalena loved ice cream so much that she would eat a gallon of it every two weeks.
In her younger days, Magdalena and George enjoyed square dancing. After moving to WaKeeney, Magdalena line danced from 1976 until she was 91 years old.
While working at Wagon Ho in Quinter, she wore the dress she made for the Grainfield Centennial, cooked meals over an open fire in the middle of the prairie, spent the night in the pickup truck, and cooked breakfast the next morning. She was paid $3 per hour.
Magdalena and George spent seven years at the Kansas State Fair, entering exhibits in the Domestic Art Building. Their travels included working one season at Yellowstone and driving to Alaska, Florida, Arizona, Indiana, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, and Texas.
She enjoyed family reunions, picnics, dancing, sewing, reading, assembling puzzles, and gardening.
Preceding her in death are her parents; her husband, George; and siblings, Margaret Deges, Jacob Zimmerman, Frances Zerr, Joseph Zimmerman, Victoria Zerr, and Anna Mary Heier.
Surviving to mourn her passing are her three daughters, Ruan (Wes) Windholz, Mary Ladd (Larry) Dague, and Karen (Reg) Flagler; her sister, Joan Engel; grandchildren, Terri (Doug) Rule, Tiffany (Bill) Weber, Chad (Tracy) Dague, Michael (Jessica Davis), Justin, Amanda, Ryan, and Paul Flagler, Raisa (Clint) Little, Carson Windholz, Stephanie (Dustin) Foster, and Stephen Windholz; 19 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; five great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way; and 65 nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at Schmitt Funeral Home, located at 336 N 12th St, WaKeeney, KS, on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a vigil service beginning at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Christ the King Catholic Church, located at 412 N 9th St, WaKeeney, KS, on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., with interment immediately following at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Collyer, KS.
Memorial donations can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Peace or to Masses at Christ the King Catholic Church. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home at 336 N 12th St, WaKeeney, KS 67672.