Bruce Edward Zellmer

Bruce Edward Zellmer, 83, of Sioux City died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Sioux City. Come celebrate his life with us.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. A graveside service will be 3 p.m. Friday in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Letcher, S.D. Visitation will be 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Bruce was born on Jan. 14, 1931, in rural Lawton, Iowa, to John C. Zellmer and Ruth Henrietta (Roeschke) Zellmer. He grew up on his parents' farm, and graduated from East High School. He then attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he met the love of his life, Ila Johnson.
He married Ila Corrine (Johnson) Zellmer on Dec. 21, 1952. With Ila’s support, he attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained in 1958. They were blessed with four children, David, Daniel, Timothy and Cynthia.
At a young age, a church elder told him that he should go into the ministry. That suggestion took root, and he spent his lifetime serving others as an ordained pastor. He served parishes in Canby, Minn., Ponca City, Okla., Houston, Texas, and Rock Rapids, Iowa. Bruce also received training at Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, Ill., and subsequently served as a chaplain. Throughout his career, Bruce served as a clinical pastoral education supervisor, helping to train others in the spiritual care of hospital patients. Along the way, he also became a therapist for individuals, marriage and families. While in Ponca City, Bruce was the director of pastoral counseling at Bi-State Mental Health Clinic.
In 1975, Bruce founded Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Ponca City, with the help of his wife, Ila. Within this small church community, he impacted many lives in innovative ways, such as summer church services out at the lake, even teaching many church members how to water ski. In addition, he and Ila founded the hospice program in Ponca City, only the second such program in the state.
In 1978, Bruce and Ila went on a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend, and this experience was the catalyst for a new ministry, strengthening and enriching marriages. He and Ila became presenters for Lutheran Marriage Encounter. Through their 30-plus years with LME, they also served on the local, national and international Lutheran Marriage Encounter Boards. With LME, Bruce and Ila traveled to many states of the U.S., and to Brazil and Scandinavia.
Bruce was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a constant presence and supporter at the sports events, concerts and professional activities of his children and grandchildren. Even when Alzheimer's disease made his former work impossible, he continued serving by volunteering at his grandson’s school where he listened to young readers.
Bruce is survived by his son, Bishop David B. and LaDonna Zellmer of Sioux Falls, and their family, Christina and Jon Nath of Mitchell, S.D., Joshua D. and Emily Zellmer of Sioux Falls, Dr. Sarah Zellmer of Sioux Falls, and her family, and Michael D. Zellmer and Jenna Pfeifle of Pierre, S.D., and seven great-grandchildren, Cella, Parker, Christopher and Brigston Nath, Damon, Cooper and Isabel Aguilar; a son, Rev. Daniel and Debbie Zellmer of Port Lavaca, Texas, and their family, Brenda and Russell Svetlik of Victoria, Texas, Beth and Jeff Svetlik of Victoria, and Machaela Zellmer of Goliad, Texas, and four great-grandchildren, Lena and Walker Svetlik, and Ryan and Riley Svetlik; a son, Dr. Timothy Zellmer of Boquete, Panama; and a daughter, Cynthia and William Weber of Sioux City, and their family, Serena and Zachary Reynolds of Thornton, Colo., and Levi and Caleb Weber of Sioux City; his brothers, Ernest and Gladys Zellmer, and Wayne and Ingrid Zellmer; and a brother-in-law, Norris and Betty Johnson.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Ila; his parents, John and Ruth Zellmer; a brother-in-law, Jim McNeary; and a sister-in-law, Melva McNeary.
Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church Praise Team or Hospice of Siouxland.
Bruce touched the lives of countless people through his roles as pastor, chaplain, marriage retreat leader and friend. Please join us in remembering his life.