Betty Zimmerman (née Neubauer), 95, died on Nov. 19, 2023 at Asbury Gardens Skilled Care in North Aurora.
One of five sisters born to John and Lillian Neubauer in Chicago, she was a graduate of St. Paschal grade school and Steinmetz High School. She moved to Forest Park in the 1950s and met her husband, Fred, the “Silver Fox,” who served over 30 years with the Forest Park Police Department, retiring as lieutenant and deputy chief. Together, they raised and generously educated two children, Terry and Fred (Cathy).
Her working life grew through later education and training and gave her a successful career as a tax preparer for H&R Block and Paul Herbert CPA, and she also became an enrolled agent with the IRS. Despite her commitment to work, she and Fred’s volunteering for various civic groups went undiminished. They were also a popular couple in Madison Street social life.
With Betty’s departure from Forest Park, this will be the first time since 1887 that there is no Zimmerman living in town. The Zimmerman family produced five Forest Park police officers, one Oak Park police officer, and contributed hundreds of hours of volunteering with the Mariner Girl Scouts, St. Bernardine School, and the Forest Park Police Pension Board.
Betty was also the grandmother of two, Lydia and Freddy, and the aunt of many.
Final arrangements, handled by Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, were private. The family will gather to celebrate her life at a later date.