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VGI Updates

Zimmermann, Johannes

Father Johannes Zimmerman, son of Andreas Zimmermann, was born in 1885 in the Volga German colony of Seelmann. After completing his studies at the seminary in Saratov to 1908 he was ordained a priest and began serving the parishes in Astrakhan and then Tsaritsyn (Volgograd).

He served the parish in Liebental from 1910-1913; the parishes in Dehler and Brabander from 1913-1918; the parishes of Rothammel and Seelmann from 1918-1923; and finally, the parishes of Dehler and Brabander again from 1923-1925. In January 1929 he was again serving parishners in Brabander.

Zimmer, Karl

The Rev. Karl Zimmer, son of joiner Johannes Zimmer, was born 7 January 1863 in Mirau (Kurland). He married Julia Amalie Nilsson on 15 September 1892 in the Crimea. She was born 31 July 1870 in Pernau and died 4 September 1921 in Baku (Caucasus). Pastor Zimmer died on 19 October 1939 in Rohr b. Stuttgart (Germany).

He studied theology at the Basel Mission and was ordained on 10 July 1890 [some sources: 13 July 1890] in Ludwigsburg. He served the following congregations in Russia:

Zocher, George L.

Pastor Zocher was a native of Dresden, Germany, born there in 1872. He came to the United States in 1890 to study for the ministry. He attended the University of the Pacific at San Jose, California, and became an American citizen on 9 September 1895. A few days later he married Barbara Lou Lindemeyer. After serving Ebenezer German Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, Pastor Zocher went on to the Zion Congregational Church in Ritzville, Washington (1928-1933), the First German church in Dryden, Washington (1934-1936) and St. Mark’s Church in Olympia, Washington (1931-1940).

Zubowitsch, Raphael

Father Zubowitsch was a member of the Order of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). He served the parish of Schuck from March 1803 to 2 August 1808. He served the parish of Mariental from 9 August 1808 to 28 February 1809.

Weigum, David

The Rev. David Weigum was born in Ludwigstal in the Province of Ekaterinoslav on 24 October 1874, to Joseph W. Weigum and Christine Weidner. He died in Liestal, Switzerland, on 24 October 1952.

He was married in Oftringen in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, on 13 May 1903 to Klara Pleuss, daughter of Samuel P. Pleuss and Marie Weber. She was born in Rothrist also in the Canton of Aargau on 29 November 1872 and died in Riehen in the Canton of Basel on 31 December 1965.

Wernborner, Ludwig Balthasar

Ludwig Balthasar Wernborner was born 11 March 1741 in Nieder-Rosbach, Hessen-Nassau (Prussia), son of Pastor Johann Daniel Wernborner.

On 17 April 1758, he began theological studies in Gießen (Hessen), and was ordained in 1766 in Friedberg (Hessen).

He arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 12 May 1766 aboard the galliot Anna Katharina under the command of Skipper Daniel Geier along with many families that settled in the colony of Katharinenstadt.

From 1768 to 1774, he served as pastor of the Katharinenstadt (South) parish.

Wiesner, Wendelin

Father Wendelin Wiesner, O.F.M.Cap., was born Rudolph Wiesner, son of Jakob Wiesner & Anna Maria Schäfer. He was born on 16 October 1875 in Kamenka.

He entered the religious life in 1895 and professed on 89 September 1896. He served St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria, Kansas.

He died 23 January 1961 and is buried in the Capuchin plot of St. Fidelis Cemetery in Victoria, Kansas.

Willi, Daniel

The Rev. Daniel Willi was born in 1739 in Chur near Graubünden, Switzerland. He died on 17 November 1788 in Sarepta.

He served the congregations in Anton (1777-1786) and Rosenheim (1777-1787).

Willmann, Fredrick Arthur

Rev. F.A. Willman served the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, from 1914 to 1918. He was born in Germany about 1852 and immigrated to the United States in 1855. In 1900 he was pastor of an Evangelical Church in Lorain, Ohio; in 1905 he was in Ackley, Iowa and in 1910 he was in McPherson County, South Dakota.