Ila F. Zimmerly

Ila F. Zimmerly, age 86, of Sterling, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster, following a brief period of declining health.

Ila was born on January 9, 1938, in Cavalier County, North Dakota, to the late Alfred and Rachel (Conat) Long. She graduated from International Falls Senior High in Minnesota in 1956 and then went on to graduate from Goshen College with a BA in education. She married Jacob D. Zimmerly on August 27, 1960, in International Falls, MN. Jacob passed away on January 1, 2018.

Ila loved children. She expressed this through becoming an elementary school teacher and having four children. She initially taught in Orrville for several years before taking a break to raise her family. She returned to teaching for 25 years at Sterling Elementary before her retirement.

After her retirement she volunteered for a decade at Ohio's Hospice LifeCare formerly known as Wayne County Hospice Care. She loved spending time and going out to lunch with her Sterling group, a group of retired teachers from Sterling Elementary School. She enjoyed quilting, playing solitaire, and getting her nails done. But most of all she delighted in her family and spending time with them as much as she could. She was her children’s number one fan at all their sporting events.

Ila was a lifelong member of Crown Hill Mennonite Church where she led singing, taught Sunday School and Bible School and made quilts for Women Serving Christ for the MCC Relief Sale.

Surviving are three sons, Terrence (Karen) Zimmerly of Iowa City, IA, Randall (Cynthia) Zimmerly of Shipshewana, IN, and Michael (Diane) Zimmerly of Kent; daughter, Joy (Brian) Ziegler of Sterling; 9 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; five siblings, Albert (Judy) Long, Hugh (Myrna) Long, Cynthia (Rodney) Milender, Ronald (Val) Long, Karen (Ralph) Ruelle, and Kenneth (Deborah) Long; four sisters-in-law, Bev Long, Mary Jo Long, Velma Shoup, and Twila Zimmerly; brother-in-law, Dennis (Lois) Zimmerly; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by siblings, William "Sweed" Long, infant brother, Theodore "Teddy" Long, Linda Tilander, Stanley Long, Dennis Long, Alfred "Junior" Long; brother-in-law, Wally Tilander; sisters-in-law, Karen Long, Linda Long, Evelyn Zimmerly, and Anna Detweiler.

Friends may call on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Crown Hill Mennonite Church, 9693 Benner Road, Rittman, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 10:00 am to 10:45 am.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, at the church, with Pastors Thomas Dunn and Dan Hooley officiating. Burial will take place at the Crown Hill Mennonite Cemetery in Rittman.

Memorials may be made to Crown Hill Mennonite Church 9693 Benner Road, Rittman, OH 44270 http://crownhillmennonite.com/.

Auble Funeral Home in Orrville is handling the arrangements. Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at www.aublefuneralhome.com.

Posted online on March 12, 2024

Published in The Daily Record