BIOGRAPHY

Lina Zimmer was born in Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany, on November 20, 1892 as one of six children to Friedrich and Karoline Beck. Her father worked as a bookbinder. After graduation Zimmer was trained in dress making and started her own business. Lisa Zimmer said about William II of Wurttemberg that he was a nice person, greeting everyone in the streets in his position as king but also after his abdication in 1918. In 1915, she was married to Richard Zimmer, who worked as a graphic artist. The couple had a daughter called Ruth and remained married for 60 years until her husband died in 1975.

Around age 96 Zimmer moved into a nursing home where she was regularly visited by her daughter. When Zimmer turned 110 there was also a former customer aged 95, who wore a dress that Zimmer seamed 70 years ago. When Zimmer turned 111 it was reported her daughter’s doctors were surprised when she asked for informing her mother about her doing in hospital.

Zimmer traced her longevity to staying friendly but also brave and confident what was caused by her favorite slogan “Live sensibly, don’t get worked up and be content” (German: “Vernünftig leben, sich nicht aufregen und zufrieden sein”).

Lina Zimmer died in Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, on 28 August 2004. At the time of her passing at age 111 years, 282 days, Zimmer was the oldest living person of Germany for almost one year and a month. She was preceded in death by 111 year-old Hermann Dornemann. After Zimmer’s passing there was no other supercentenarian in Baden Wurttemberg until 2012 when Franziska Rau turned 110.

RECOGNITION

Zimmer’s age was verified by the German Federal Office of Administration (BVA) and Thomas Breining, and was validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 4 December 2003.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY