Irene Zillman Seim

Irene Zillman Seim passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on the afternoon of July 11, 2020 at Arden Courts Memory Care Community, Geneva, IL.  The cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease.

Irene was born May 29, 1929 to Rane [S1] and John Bakker of Mt. Olive, IL and was baptized, educated, and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in that tiny coal-mining community. Although her father died when she was six years old, she and her two sisters graduated from the local high school and all three headed for college, Irene to Illinois State Normal University on a scholarship.

While enrolled there, she met a World War II veteran, Orville J. “Zeke” Zillman of Danville, IL at the Lutheran Club located on campus.  They married following her sophomore year and proceeded to move about the Midwest following his positions as principal of public elementary schools in Cabery and Rossville, IL, Muncie, IN, Clyde, OH and Barrington, IL. The family, now with five children in tow, subsequently moved to Westville, IL, where Zeke served as school superintendent for one year, then to Wheaton, IL where he began his work with the Illinois Department of Corrections as superintendent of educational and vocational training at juvenile facilities throughout the state. 

Upon Zeke’s untimely death in 1972, Irene worked in a number of retail and municipal staff positions, notably the Wheaton Public Library, as a means to support her five children, all graduates of Wheaton Central High School. The family remained active members of St. John Lutheran Church during their school years as well.

During these years, and as all five children moved on to college, Irene made the decision to complete her own college education and enrolled at Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago), graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1978 and received a Call as a Lutheran Teacher to teach third and fourth grade at Bethel Lutheran School in Westmont, IL.

Shortly after beginning her teaching career, she married Orville Seim, also widowed and a member of St. John, who had retired from a chemical engineer position at Argonne National Laboratory. Following his death in 1993, now retired from teaching, Irene actively continued to be mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, hosting family gatherings at her Wheaton home on Christmas Eve, for birthdays and Sunday evening pizza or lasagna feasts.  She continued to be active at St. John’s for worship and Bible classes and faithfully attended her grandchildren’s school events, Confirmations, and high school and college graduations. Emerging symptoms of Alzheimer’s imposed limits on travel, then necessitated assisted living and, finally, required full-time memory and hospice care at Arden Courts, Geneva, IL.

Irene Zillman Seim was preceded in death by her husbands as noted, her parents, John and Rane Bakker, her older and younger sisters, Margaret (Arlen Dahlhaus) of Lake Orion, MI and Evelyn (Fred Klinge) of Collinsville, IL.  She was mother (mother-in-law) to Louise Zillman Glymph, John (Lynne Velguth) Zillman, Suzanne Zillman, Timothy (Carla Haas) Zillman, and Thomas (Joanne Teske) Zillman; grandmother of Sarah (Aaron) Sebby, Thomas Glymph, Cathy (Adam) Zastrow, Rebecca (Richard) Rezny, Amy Zillman, Claire Zillman, Ken (Jessica Sult) Zillman and Laura Zillman.  Her great-grandchildren are Emma and Isabelle Zastrow and Eleanor and Jackson Sebby. 

Visitation will be held 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Moss Family Funeral Home 209 South Batavia Ave. Batavia, IL.  Due to COVID-19 and the rules surrounding social distancing the visitation will abide by occupancy requirements limited to 50 visitors.  All visitors entering the church are required to wear a face covering.  Due to the number of people who would like to pay their respects, we ask that you make your visitation a brief one. Once you have had your visit, we ask that you depart immediately.  There should be no gatherings inside or outside of the funeral home facility.  The family appreciates your sincere cooperation during these very challenging and different times.  For additional clarification, please contact the funeral home. 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Immanuel Lutheran Church 950 Hart Road Batavia, IL.  She will lie in state at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.    Interment will follow in Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia, IL, the Spiritus Christi Scholarship Endowment at Concordia University Foundation, River Forest, IL or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.