Emma M. Simmering
FAIRMONT — Funeral services for Emma M. Simmering, 90, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Burial will be held next to her husband, Howard Simmering, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Wilbert, Minn. Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Emma passed away Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2026, at her home in Fairmont. Those wishing to view the service but are unable to attend are invited to go to the St. Paul Lutheran Church website: https://www.splfairmont.org/. Memorials are preferred to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Endowment Fund in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Emma Mae Simmering was born on March 3, 1935, to Martin and Emma Nelson in Jackson, Minn. She attended Jackson School and graduated from Jackson High School. While she was in school and after graduating, Emma worked for the telephone company as a telephone operator.
On May 5, 1954, Emma married Laurence Vacek and they were blessed with two children, Kathleen (Gruhlke) and Mark. She started her career in banking in 1963.
On Jan. 26, 1985, Emma married Howard Simmering at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Ceylon, Minn. They made their home on the Simmering Farm and she continued to work in banking until she retired in 1993. In 1994, Emma took care of her son, Mark who was 38 and later died from cancer. In 2007, they moved to Fairmont because of Howard’s health. At this time, Emma and Howard joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Emma loved to play bridge and go swimming.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Kathleen Gruhlke (husband, Douglas died in May 2021); step-daughters, Shelley (Jeff) Bauer, Nancee (Ron) Meuser, Merilee (Joe) Kocak; step-grandchildren, Lindsey, Ashley, Kelsey, Claire and Matthew; two step-great-grandchildren; special niece and nephew, Colleen (Jeff) Loftsgaarden and Ron Handevidt; and special friends, Deb and Kent Rasche.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; son, Mark; son-in-law, Doug Gruhlke; three sisters; two brothers; and her parents.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net
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