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Over one hundred years of service, one family and five generations of caring individuals.
Zimmerman Funeral Home was originally founded in Gratis, Ohio by Lurton Zimmerman and his wife, Lizzie in 1892. The funeral home was and still is located at 113 Ada Doty Street in Gratis. Lurten and Lizzie had four sons, Lysle, Oleson, Leonard and Robert Zimmerman. The funeral home soon became Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home as Lysle and his wife, Irene became involved in the funeral business.
Lysle and years later, Oleson and Robert Zimmerman, all became funeral directors and embalmers and the name was changed again to Zimmerman and Sons. Lysle and Irene opened a funeral home at 41 W. Dayton St. West Alexandria where he did embalming and offered a casket showroom. It was the first funeral home in Preble County, Ohio where embalming and funerals were held at the funeral home instead of the residence of the deceased. In 1930 they moved the funeral establishment to 67 W. Dayton St., which is the main location today.
Lysle and Irene had 3 children, Kathryn, James and Philip. Although, neither James and Philip joined their father in the family business, Kathryn married Eugene "Cincy" Lindloff in 1944 and after serving in the Marines during WWII, he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Kathryn, although not licensed, helped him in the family business. Cincy worked side by side with Lysle and later Robert. Kathryn and Cincy had three sons, Lysle, David and Mark Lindloff. Lysle Zimmerman died in 1968 and the two funeral homes were operated by Cincy Lindloff and Robert Zimmerman. After the death of Robert Zimmerman in 1972, Lysle Lindloff, who had just graduated from Miami University, decided to join the family business and started attended Cincinnati Mortuary School, graduating in 1974. Lysle later earned his MBA degree from the University of Dayton. His brother, David Lindloff, after serving in the Marine Corps, attended the Cincinnati Mortuary School and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer also.
Mark and David have both chosen different career paths, but to this day, David still helps part-time in the business. Lysle and Jo Ellen Lindloff, married in 1969 and have three children, Paula, Bryan and Brad. After the sudden death of Cincy in 1984 Lysle and Jo Ellen decided to buy the funeral home business from his mother, Kathryn. Jo Ellen then attended college graduating with an Associate degree. She served her apprenticeship as funeral director, and then joined her husband in the funeral business. Jo Ellen thus became the first full time female funeral director in Preble County. Our daughter, Paula Lindloff Bassler, graduated from Wright State University and decided to join the family business and became a licensed funeral director in 2002. She also serves as Vice President and Administrative Assistant. She is married to Dan Bassler and they have four children, Jacob, Ryan, Allison and Noelle. Bryan and his wife, Alicia have three children, Bryson, Ansley and Braxton. Brad and his wife, Meghan (Adsit) live in Covington, KY, as do Bryan and Alicia. Bryan and Brad serve as officers in the corporation.
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