Gene Joanne “Jodi” Ziemer passed away peacefully on January 4, 2023 in Virginia Beach surrounded by her loving family.  Jodi was born on July 9th, 1947 to Eugene and Cleo Evans. She was a graduate of Geneva College.

Jodi was born in Sewickley, PA, but soon thereafter moved to the mission field with her family.  China was their first ministry and then on to Vietnam where she would meet the love of her life Robert Timothy “Tim” Ziemer. Jodi and Tim knew each other from a very young age meeting at the Dalat School in the northern highlands of Vietnam.  Tim’s parents were missionaries in Vietnam as well and he attended the school while they performed their ministry with a local Vietnamese tribe.  Jodi’s parents Gene and Cleo were dorm parents at the school and became a second mother and father to Tim.  Through Tim’s constant pursuit of Jodi over the years they got engaged after college. Shortly after their engagement Tim was deployed to Vietnam for a year to serve in the war as a Naval Aviator. Upon his safe return they were married. She spent the next 33 years as a Navy Wife, raising their 3 children, Eric, Kyle and Kelli. Jodi loved being a Navy Wife, a job that she performed with the utmost of class and dignity. Jodi had a passion for life, for family, for serving people and most importantly for Christ. Jodi loved her Lord and Savior and while we miss her dearly, we find comfort in knowing she is sitting next to Him in heaven and is being reunited with her parents and other loved ones. She spent every morning with the Lord praying and reading scripture; our perfect example of a godly woman. She loved music, taking an active role as a pianist, a vocalist, a choir member and at one point a choir director. She was a dedicated member of the McLean Presbyterian choir, teaching English as a second language in their ESL program, and a mentor to mothers in their Moms of Preschoolers program. As an avid walker, Jodi completed the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC at the age of 57, with her daughter Kelli. She was a master gardener who spent every minute she could in her greenhouse. Jodi never wanted to miss out on anything in life; we can’t think of anyone who lived a more full, joyful, and sacrificial life. While heaven gained an amazing soul, our world will miss her dearly.  Jodi’s biggest impact was on her family as an amazing wife, mother and grandmother (Nonni) to her 8 grandchildren.

Jodi is predeceased by her parents Gene and Cleo Evans.  Left to cherish her memory are her husband Tim; three children Eric (Jennifer), Kyle (Carrie) and Kelli (Aaron); Grandchildren Ruby, June, Ford, Isaac, Evan, Cleo, Owen and Vivian; Brother Evan (Jewel) and a host of cousins and loving friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held January 28th, 2023 at 11:00 at the Virginia Beach Community Chapel, 1261 Laskin Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 with a reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Jodi’s honor to Global Friendship House: 1241 West 43rd Street Nofolk, VA 23508, www.Globalfriendshipventures.org.

The family would like to thank you all for your support and prayers in this difficult time.