NORMA ZIMMER

JULY 13, 1923 - MAY 10, 2011

Norma Zimmer was the embodiment of what the perfect Champagne Lady should be. “They broke the mold when they created Norma,” as her boss Lawrence Welk would affectionately say. “She’s just as beautiful inside as she is outside.”  The entire Musical Family shared Lawrence’s feelings about Norma.

Even when dealing with ten years of excrutiating pain caused by "trigeminal facial neuralgia", her strong Christian faith always sustained her.  She credited her recovery to “Randy’s (her husband) loving care, the prayers of our family and friends and the skill of my surgeon. I thank God for all of you.”

Norma was born in Idaho, the daughter of musically gifted parents. It was while she was attending high school in Seattle, Washington that she experienced the three major events which shaped her life: she met Carl Pitzer, a music teacher who believed in her talent; she became a lifelong Christian; and she met the man with whom she has spent her life.  Norma and Randy met on a ski trip in the Seattle area and were instantly attracted. Randy, an excellent skier, immediately offered to teach her.  For many years, they enjoyed their beautiful mountain top home in Park City, Utah where they could ski and hike mountain trails almost every day.  Norma also loved to paint and spent hours at her easel working on portraits and still lifes.  Several of her works have been shown on the Easter and Thanksgiving shows.

Randy and Norma continued to date, but before they married, talent scouts heard Norma sing and encouraged her to try for a musical career. So she and Randy’s sister braved Hollywood. Within weeks, Norma had begun a career, which found her singing on radio, recordings and television shows. She and Randy were married, and he began his highly successful career as a builder in Southern California.

Norma continued her career and she was always in demand, but her real recognition came when she guest starred on “The Lawrence Welk Show.” His television audience made its approval known and Lawrence invited her to return.  On New Year’s Eve, 1960 he asked her, on camera, to be the Champagne Lady. Norma laughingly recalled that momentous day, “my look of shock was so real people thought it was rehearsed. But it wasn’t. I was stunned.”  

Norma went on to become one of the most-beloved members of the show.  After the show went off the air, she continued to sing occasionally at religious convocations, but the primary focus of her life continued to be her family -- Randy, their two sons and grandchildren.

Comments from fans:

Norma's life was a Christ-centered life and she lived life well, hardships and all. We are all better off for having had her touch our lives.  Norma exuded joy through her singing and testimonies of her faith. A grand lady, a beautiful soul. She took every opportunity to give God the glory for her talents and always shared her love for Jesus with others.

She was the epitome of a perfect lady and her voice was that of no other.  She just seemed to radiate God's love and was a perfect example of what I think God would have us all be.  The world would be a much better place if we could just have a little of Norma's faith.