Philip R. Ziemann

Philip R. Ziemann, 89, of Rochester passed away Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Seasons Hospice. Phil was born to Hulda Ziemann on January 2, 1927 in Rochester, Minnesota.He graduated from Rochester High School, and after retuning from serving in the United States Army, married his childhood sweetheart Doneen Brandt. Phil and Doneen built a home in 1948 on what was then the edge of Rochester (five blocks west of Broadway) and raised all five of their children in that same home.In his younger years Phil was self-employed, running his own successful trucking business.Phil hauled brick and building materials for many of the buildings in Rochester and he loved to tell stories of the changes in his hometown. He then worked for a local construction company (O.A. Stocke) before closing his working career as a school and coach bus driver for Laidlaw Transit.Dad retired on December 22, 2000. During their 69 years of marriage, Phil and Doneen were active in the Bethel Lutheran Church community (Dad hauled brick for that building too), enjoyed traveling and gardening. In their later years, our Dad was a wonderful caregiver to our Mom, ensuring she could stay in their home by devoting himself completely to her needs, even turning his thumb pretty green in those flower beds and becoming quite an accomplished gardener in his own right.Together again now for all time, as it should be. Preceded in death by his wife Doneen, mother Hulda, and Uncle Otto.He is survived by his family of five children, Sandra Drake, Shiloy Ziemann (Wendall), Ninette Ziemann, Kathleen VanDerHeyden (Mark) and Michael Ziemann (Kathy); six grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. A memorial in celebration of Phils life will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester on Friday, May 27 at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Wahl officiating.Visitation will take place from 2:00 3:00pm prior to the service with a luncheon following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice or Bethel Lutheran Church.