Thea Traute Zimmermann Davis
Thea, “Nana” to those who knew and loved her, passed from this life into the arms of her Lord on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, surrounded by her family. She had celebrated her 96th birthday on July 29 of this year.
Nana was born July 29, 1926, at home in Birkenwerder, Germany, to Karl and Erna Zimmermann. She was a self-proclaimed Daddy’s Girl and delighted in helping her father in his photography studio when she was a little girl. She met her husband Walter (Papa) in Germany at an R&R hotel after the end of World War II, and their romance was filled with dancing and riding around to dance clubs in their favorite jeep. They were married in August of 1948 and traveled to the United States. Nana accompanied Papa from duty station to duty station around the western United States. They raised three children, each born at a different duty station.Throughout her travels, Nana made lifelong friends wherever they were stationed. Papa’s retirement brought her to the Colorado River home which she designed and remained in until her death. There she was able to enjoy nature, her animals and time with her family, including summer months with her grandchildren. She had many talents — among them baking, painting, gardening, canning, knitting, crocheting, cake decorating, crafting and sewing. No one was ever allowed to go hungry around her as the first question she would always ask is “Can I get you something to eat?” Volunteering was part of her soul, and we will all miss those special things she did for and with each of us. Among the many volunteer activities of which Nana was a part of the FM 969 Volunteer Fire Department, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, a Brownie troop leader, working the polls during elections and driving handicapped children to school. Family, church and community were definitely the important things in her life.
Nana was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Erna Zimmerman; her sister, Gerda; and her husband, Walter.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth in Birkenwerder, Germany; daughters, Margarete (Charles) Elfstrom and Dorothy (Paul) Garrick; son, Glenn (Sandra) Davis; grandchildren, Sean (Kristi) Elfstrom, C. Scott (Angie) Elfstrom, MAJ Troy Terrebonne, Jennifer (Jason) Larson, Travis (Cara) Addison and Logan Davis; great-grandchildren, Cassandra, Simon, Ash, Owen, Ella, Kara, Emmalynn and Colton; nephew Rolf (Christiana) Scharnitzki; great-nephew, Jan Scharnitzki; great-niece, Katja (Falco) Braun; and great-great niece, Anna, all in Birkenwerder, Germany.
The funeral service will be held on Nov. 14 at Bastrop Christian Church, 1106 Church St in Bastrop, at 1:30 p.m. with a visitation from 12:30 p.m. until the service begins. Memorials may be either sent to a charity of your choice or Bastrop Christian Church.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Sean Elfstrom, Scott Elfstrom, MAJ Troy Terrebonne, Jennifer Larson, Travis Addison and Logan Davis. The officiant is Pastor Dustin Bartee. Interment will be at Cook-Walden, Lord’s Prayer Garden, in Pflugerville.