Suzanne M. Zimmermann (Unger) has heroically ended her long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was a warrior and fought the good battle.  She passed peacefully with her 3 children at her bed side on Saturday, January 29 ^th , 2022.

Sue was born in Plymouth, Wisconsin on November 1, 1936, the daughter of Francis and Armella (Tagge) Unger.  In 1955 she graduated from Plymouth High School in Plymouth, WI.  The following year she married her high school sweetheart and lifelong companion Dr. Timm A. Zimmermann.  They had 3 loving children: Mike (Sue) Zimmermann of Mount Vernon, John (Debbie) Zimmermann of Bow, and Linda (Tim) FitzGerald of Burlington.

In 1967, while Timm was working as a newly graduated physician in the small town of Westby, Wisconsin, he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Sue was dedicated to both her husband and her children and, without question, rose to the challenge.  She was the glue that kept the family together. With her unconditional support, the family returned to Washington State where Timm returned to medical school at the University of Washington, became a professor of Internal Medicine, and completed his studies in Nuclear Medicine.  In 1975, the family moved from Mercer Island to Mount Vernon where he started the Nuclear Medicine departments at Skagit Valley and United General Hospitals.  Without her unwavering dedication and sacrifice it would have been difficult for Timm to have achieved his status as a successful and much-loved physician in our community.  The old adage " Behind every great man is a great woman " certainly rings true here.  Sue was much more than a homemaker, wife, caregiver, and mother…   Her love and devotion, along with her devout faith, kept her and the family strong.

Sue had a way of touching people's lives. She had a gift for making a room light up with her smile and every person she met felt welcome and special. Her kindness and optimism were endless and her positive outlook on life was compelling.  Sue handled all that life put upon her with the utmost grace and dignity.   There will be a special place for "Saint Sue" in heaven.  Her smiling face will be missed by family and friends.  All who knew her will know that the world was a better place with her among us.  She was a good example of someone who lived a life caring for her family often at her own expense and sacrifice.  Sue's memory can be best honored by following her life-long examples of unconditional and uncompromised love and commitment to family and friends, forgiveness, faith, and meeting life's challenges with dignity, grace and compassion.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Timm; her parents, Francis and Armella Unger; brother Dick Unger and sister Barbara Vandermause, and grandson, Joel Zimmermann. She is survived by her 3 children: Mike, John, and Linda; 8 grandchildren: Kyle (Danielle) Zimmerman, Taylor Zimmermann, Aaron (Sunrise) Zimmermann, Tony (Lucy) Zimmermann, Nicole Zimmermann, Sean FitzGerald, Connor FitzGerald, and Ian FitzGerald; 7 great-grandchildren, her sister, Collette Flood, and her brothers Tom Unger and Bob Unger. The family would like to give a big appreciative shout out to Creekside Senior Care Facility in Burlington and to Hospice of the Northwest for their compassionate, loving, and supportive care.

Please visit www.hawthornefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.  Arrangements are entrusted to Hawthorne Funeral Home and Crematory, with a private family service being held on February 19.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Northwest Foundation (227 Freeway Drive, Ste. A, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 or www.hospicenw.org .