Obituary: Zimmerman (Day), Janice Charlene
Janice was born in Colfax, WA, November 9, 1921 to Sadie and Charles Day.
The youngest of three children, she grew up and attended school in LaCrosse, WA.
Her father passed away when she was 7 and her mother when she was 12.
She was then raised by her sister Velda until graduating from LaCrosse High School.
She enjoyed playing basketball, singing and taking part in musical performances.
Upon graduation from high school, class of 1939, she enrolled at Washington State College and there met C. Robert Zimmerman (Bob) with whom she would share her life and a mutual love for music.
They were married in LaCrosse, August 24, 1941 and began a wonderful life of 60 years together filled with music, world travel, an ever growing, loving family and many wonderful friends.
Beginning their journey in Spokane, WA from 1941-43 and continuing in Portland, OR, 1943-1961, Janice devoted herself to raising four children.
She also took an active role in supporting Bob’s career activities, the founding and development of the Portland Symphonic Choir, a music ministry at Central Lutheran Church and the establishment of the Holiday Bowl, a summer series of light opera.
In each of these activities she was involved as a singer, director, business manager and whatever else needed to be done.
In 1961 they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA where Bob became the first Department Chair and Director of Choral music at the new California Lutheran College (now University).
Janice’s role would expand as she accepted a position in the Conejo Valley Unified School District as a school secretary while at the same time still nurturing her love of music, singing in the choir at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and in another choral ensemble founded by Bob, the Conejo Choraliers.
She also began a lifelong relationship with the choir students at CLU as a “choir mom” and friend on all of the music tours.
Her life was full with family, music, work and travel.
As her children began leaving home and having families of their own, she saw a need for family reunions, an annual tradition that continues to this day.
The families gather each year to share experiences and celebrate the family - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In 1989 they returned to Spokane, spending time with friends and family.
Upon the passing of Bob in 2001, Janice moved to Hawaii to stay with her daughter Lorrie.
In 2006 she moved back to Spokane, taking residence at Riverview assisted living, moving to the care center in 2010.
Janice was preceded in death by her husband Bob and her son Stephen.
She is survived by her two sons, Charles and his wife Debbie, of Spokane; Eric of Vancouver, WA; daughter Lorrie and partner Jim Strait of Kailua Kona, HI; fifteen grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Janice’s life will be held during the annual family reunion in July at Samish Island, WA.
Interment service will be held in Colfax, WA on July 31, 2013, 10:30 AM at the Colfax Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Janice’s name to the Zimmerman Scholarship Fund at California Lutheran University, 60 West Olsen Road #1675, Thousand Oaks, CA.
91360-2700.