Willa Mae (Janssen) Zimmer, age 60, passed away in her home in Ness City, Kansas on Thursday, May 10, 2012.

She was born on August 25, 1951 in Beloit, Kansas the daughter of William F. and Treva Marie Peters Janssen. She attended elementary school in Cawker City and graduated from Ness City High School in 1969.

She was a Master Licensed Electrician, the third female to be licensed in the state of Colorado. She was co-owner, Secretary, and Treasurer of Zimmer Engine and Electrical Service, Inc., administrator of the William F. Janssen Scholarship Fund, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Ness City. Willa was an accomplished local musician and performed as "Granny Z". In more recent years, one of her greatest joys was frequently entertaining in area long term care facilities. She adored her elderly fans as much as they adored her.

On December 22, 1982 she married Michael Edward Zimmer in Boulder, Colorado. He survives.

Other survivors include son, Mark (Zimmer) Lyon, Hays; daughter, Major Chanda Marie Maneval, U.S. Army, (Mark), Alexandria, Virginia; two brothers, William "Bill" Janssen (Shirley), Great Bend and Gordon "Frank" Janssen (Laurell), Hutchinson; two sisters, Billie Marie Backhaus (Terry), Ness City and Karrie Kae "KK" Harper, Ness City; and two grandchildren, Evangeline Marie Tavoloni and Brandon Michael Lyon. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Celebration of Life service and visitation will be held at the American Legion Club Room on Saturday, May 19, 2012, starting at 3:00 P.M..

Memorial contributions may be given to the William F. Janssen Scholarship fund and the John Hopkins Familial Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.