Distinguished Alumni/ae Award
Distinguished
Alumni/ae 2008
• Peg A. Chemberlin ’82
• Herbert Zimmerman ’46
 Peg
A. Chemberlin “A
leader in ecumenical ministries.”
Following graduation from United in 1982, Peg was ordained
in the Moravian Church and became the director of campus
ministries at St. Cloud State University and served as
an adjunct professor there. In 1988, she became the director
of the Minnesota FoodShare where she collaborated with
3,000 congregations and organizations resulting in the
collection of 32 million pounds of food.
Peg is recognized both regionally and nationally as a leader
in ecumenical ministries. She has been the executive director
of the Minnesota Council of Churches since 1995 and has used
her many gifts for ecumenical ministry to develop the Minnesota
Council of Churches as one of the premier councils in the
United States. Her leadership at the council focuses on social
justice, interfaith dialogues, and in support of the Christian
community throughout the state. She is a respected advocate
for social justice issues at the local, state, and national
levels and was recently elected as the president-elect of
the National Council of Churches where she will be the first
Minnesotan to serve as national president.
Gary Reierson describes Peg in this way: “Many would
regard her as a key voice in the ecumenical movement today.
Her passion for social justice and commitment to serving,
empowering, and lifting up the poor is inspirational. Peg
has shown through her example and her teaching, the integration
of theology and social issues that are the hallmark of a
successful United graduate. Furthermore, that integration
is lived out in her own personal life which is characterized
as one of integrity and Christian purpose.”
Peg is committed and supportive alum of United, having served
as an adjunct faculty member and speaker at the Joshua Luncheon
and the first “Early Bird Breakfast.”
Kathi Austin Mahle ’78, classmate, colleague, and
friend of Peg’s, nominated her for this year’s
Distinguished Alumni Award.
 Herbert
Zimmerman ’46 “A life
centered on living his faith every day through the pastoral
care of people.”
“There were many challenges and many difficult
times, but my faith that God was going to use me and help
me was very present and always reassuring.” – Herbert
Zimmerman
Herbert’s life was centered on living his faith every
day through the pastoral care of people.
In 1945, Hebert graduated with a B.A. from Yankton College
and a year later graduated from Yankton School of Theology. During
his 60 years in ministry, he served 18 parishes, ranging
from short interims to 13 year commitments. Because he had
strong German ties and was fluent in the language, he chose
to serve the small German speaking churches where the availability
of pastors for these types of settings was limited. Most
of these churches were in rural communities in Minnesota,
the Dakotas, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington where
the salaries were small and sometimes not forthcoming for
months.
Herbert’s involvement in the church was all encompassing.
He was a strong advocate for teens and youth programs, was intimately involved in the development of curriculum,
was an active choir member, and even served as janitor when needed.
He spent countless hours in hospitals, nursing homes, and
private homes, and even volunteered to help bring in the
harvest on farms where there was illness or when someone
had died. Throughout his career, Herbert’s expert skills
as a carpenter and wood worker were used frequently remodeling
and restoring many of the churches he served.
Herbert’s commitment to the church and community was
extensive: he served as moderator for North Dakota, Minnesota,
and Pacific Church Conferences; he was the director of youth
camping programs in several states; he was also actively
involved in the school systems in Montana, Idaho, and South
Dakota as principal and teacher, and even drove the school
bus. Although Herbert formally retired in 1986, he continued
his ministry as an interim in four churches for more than
10 years. Due to health problems Herbert officially retired
at the age of 75, with his final officiating being at his
granddaughter’s marriage.
Herbert lives in Carbondale, Illinois,
with Hilda, his wife and life partner in ministry. He was
nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award by his daughter,
Pamela Firth.
Distinguished
Alumnal Award Recipients: |
| 2008 |
Peg A. Chemberlin ’82 |
| 2008 |
Herbert Zimmerman ’46 |
| 2007 |
Paul
Olm-Stoelting ’46 ’74 |
| 2006 |
Christie
Cozad Neuger
’80 |
| 2005 |
Gene
E. Miller ’83 |
| 2004 |
Robert
H. Tucker ’81 |
| 2003 |
Gary
Reierson ’78 ’86 |
| 2002 |
Kathi
Austin Mahle ’78
Ernest Strandberg ’67 |
| 2001 |
Sheila
C. Gustafson ’77
Helen Wells Quintela ’90 |
| 2000 |
Obid
Hofland ’68 ’88 |
| 1999 |
John
Heinl ’61 |
| 1998 |
Thomas
Townsend ’60 |
| 1997 |
Eugene
Grau ’44 |
| 1996 |
Marva
Jean Hutchens ’80
Gary Miller ’68 |
| 1995 |
Carla
Bailey ’81 ’92
Hobart (Fid) Saylor ’69 |
| 1994 |
Martha
Ann Baumer ’73
Nelda Lockwood ’51
Alma Stepanek ’51 |
| 1993 |
Vernon
Jaberg ’47
Fred Schneider ’43 |
| 1992 |
Theodore
Bader ’51
Ralph Ley ’39 |
| 1991 |
John
Krueger ’63 |
|
