Irma Jean Loretta Wimer
September 3, 1931 - September 19, 2024
Irma Jean Loretta Wimer (Linkert) was born in Lodi, California, on September 3, 1931, to Marie and George Linkert. Irma fell asleep in death surrounded by love in her home of 40+ years in Sacramento, California. She is survived by her two daughters: Joy and Kim; 5 grandchildren: Alisha, Lindsey, Josh, Jennifer and Jacob; 3 great grandchildren: Joseph, James and Meadow; and brother-in-law Deb Wimer (identical twin brother of Eb Wimer). Irma had two siblings: JoAnn Mary Crumpton (Linkert) (1932-2012) and James (Jimmy) Linkert (1944-2024).
Irma’s strong work ethic was instilled at a very early age. At 6 she was preparing supper for the family on their wood-burning stove. At day break before school each morning she and her father could be found milking cows and tending to the other animals on their farm, including chickens and goats. At 12 she was driving a tractor; she was so small they had to use wooden blocks so she could reach the pedals. After school her chores included helping her father in harvesting the fields and picking grapes. During the summer months you’d find her in the local cannery with her mother. Irma loved to tell stories of how the other German women (twice her age) were jealous of her and would say mean things about her in German because her energy and speediness at work “made them look bad.”
Raised a Lutheran, Irma attended a Lutheran school. Always a strong-minded, direct and honest person, it’s no surprise that at a young age she would ask her Lutheran teachers many difficult Bible-based questions. The teachers later came to the house and told her parents to have her stop asking disruptive questions in class.
Irma became acquainted with the Wimer Family in 1945 when she was 14 years old.
The Wimers originated from Oklahoma. Father James Charles (CJ) Wimer, a WWI vet, owned a farm in Stuart, Oklahoma and served as the Hughes County Sheriff in the 1920s. The family had to leave Oklahoma due to the dust bowl drought which destroyed their crops. All they had was their car so they packed it up and drove town to town following the crops. Their journey eventually led them to Southern California. In 1945 the Wimer family moved up north, settling in Lodi, California.
JC Wimer, was very sick due to his injuries in WWI, but was still trying earnestly to provide for his family of 6 which included his wife, Rachel, and their four children, Eb, his twin brother Deb, and their two sisters, Lidge and Midge. Irma’s father owned hotels in town and provided a room to the Wimer family in exchange for their labor on his farm. As a result, George Linkert and JC Wimer became fast friends and not long thereafter Irma and Eb started dating. When Eb and Deb were only was 19 (1949), their father JC Wimer tragically died.
Irma graduated from Lodi Union High School on June 8, 1950.
It was in the midst of grieving his father’s death, as Irma would recall, that Eb sort of just “disappeared.” Grandma was heartbroken. She began working at the Fox Theatre (Bob Hope), the Stockton aka “the hot spot.” She also began dating and became engaged to another fellow she knew from high school that was away at college. It turned out this fellow had his eyes on someone else at the college. Word got back to grandma literally in the Lodi grapevines by way of the guy’s own mother telling Marie Linkert about it in German. When the young man returned, expecting to collect the engagement ring from Irma, he was greeted with a shotgun in the hands of Mr. Linkert. Needless to say the engagement was off.
One evening after a shift at the Fox Theater, into the theater walks Irma’s long lost first love, Eb Wimer. Irma had arrangements to get a ride with a male coworker whom she immediately ditched for Eb. They made their escape through the theater back door. The rest is history. Eb and Irma were married shortly thereafter on July 15, 1951.
The Wimer Family introduced Irma to the truth. JC Wimer was frequently called upon by the “Bible Students” as they were called then. Eb Wimer recalls seeing the Photo Drama as a child with awe.
Shortly after marrying in 1951, Eb was enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean War from February 1952 – January 1954. While Eb was away his mother, Rachel, began studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses and introduced her daughter-in-law to the truth. Irma began writing about it in her letters to Eb and he recalled learning some things throughout his childhood and fully supported Irma’s new interest.
Irma started studying with Rachel Wimer and later with Margaret (Bippus) Susich. Irma was a tough-minded cookie, however, and wouldn’t just take anything blindly. As she told the story, she started studying with the intent to prove the Witnesses wrong. We all know how that ended. Eb and Irma Wimer were baptized together on March 28, 1955, in Lodi, California.
They welcomed their first daughter, Joy Wimer in 1956. In 1958 (July 27-August 3) the little family drove across the country to attend the 8-day International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds in New York city.
Eb and Irma welcomed their second daughter, Kim Wimer in 1960.
Irma is remembered as a hard-working and energetic wife and mother, as well as a generous, artistic and crafty woman.
Her professions included working as a Telephone Switchboard Operator at Liberty House in the 1960’s, medical office assisting at Kaiser, food demonstrator, medical office reception, and elementary school yard monitor. Between 1981 and 1990 she owned two Honey Treat Yogurt Shops in Sacramento. One on Mack Road and the other inside the Florin Mall. Many fondly remember her as “the Yogurt Lady.” Many of the friends in local congregations would stop by an enjoy the delicious yogurt and good company or Irma and Eb. Irma would also host field trips of local elementary school-aged children.
In early 1979, Irma’s first granddaughter was born, Alisha, to Kim Wimer. Several months later, Lindsey, her second granddaughter would be born to Joy Wimer.
Irma and Eb were very involved in Alisha’s life and raised Lindsey as their own daughter.
Both Alisha and Lindsey have fond memories of Grandma Irma. Together, grandma and grandpa were great examples of faithfulness over the years. Serving Jehovah together, and faithful to one another in marriage for almost 52 years. Irma was a very good example of a submissive, supportive and loyal wife.
For many years they brought both granddaughters to the District Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. There they enjoyed staying in Pacifica and hold many fond memories of these times.
When grandpa died suddenly in 2002, there was a spark in Grandma’s eyes that was noticeably lost. Nothing, however, deterred grandma from serving Jehovah with all her heart. She always faithfully did as much as she could. When she could no longer attend the meetings in person, she was present by telephone at every meeting, listening and paying close attention. She also spent upwards of 30 hours every month in letter writing. After grandpa’s death she enjoyed researching local obituaries and writing to surviving family members to encourage them by sharing with them her hope in the resurrection in their time of loss. She found this therapeutic after losing her beloved husband. She never missed a memorial celebration of Christ’s death each year and always made medical staff aware of her stand on Blood in accord with Acts 15:28-29.
When caring for her mother each week, she would stop by the cemetery at Cherokee Memorial in Lodi to clean her husband’s grave and leave flowers.
On October 15, 2024, Irma was also buried at Cherokee Memorial in the same plot as Eb, along with generations of family who are also buried in the same cemetery.
We miss her terribly, but know she is merely asleep, resting until the fulfilment of John 5:28, 29: “for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life…” We can’t wait to see her again right here on earth when this scripture is fulfilled. (Psalm 37:10, 11)
SERVICE
A graveside service will be held at 12:30pm on Friday, October 11th, 2024 at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.
Please leave your condolences below.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Wimer family.
