| Christian Zimmermann | |||||||||
| State House: | Idaho | ||||||||
| District: | District 8, seat A | ||||||||
| Term Start: | December 1, 1996 | ||||||||
| Term End: | December 1, 2000 | ||||||||
| Predecessor: | Gayle Ann Wilde | ||||||||
| Successor: | Ken Roberts | ||||||||
| Birth Date: | 14 April 1940 | ||||||||
| Birth Place: | Shasi, Hubei, China (present-day Jingzhou, Hubei, China) | ||||||||
| Party: | Republican | ||||||||
| Alma Mater: | Boise State University, National Defense University | ||||||||
| Occupation: | Pastor, politician, USAF pilot and commercial pilot | ||||||||
| Spouse: | Melvia Kahale | ||||||||
| Children: | 3 | ||||||||
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Benjamin Christian Zimmermann is an American pastor, former politician, retired United States Air Force pilot, and commercial pilot from Idaho. Zimmermann was a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives.
On April 14, 1940, Zimmermann was born in Shasi, Hubei Province, China. Zimmermann's parents were Lutheran missionaries in China. Zimmermann has a sister, Katharine.
Zimmermann attended Boise State University and Iowa State University. In 1980, Zimmermann earned a master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in Clayton, Missouri. In 1985, Zimmermann earned a degree from National Defense University.
In military, in 1959, Zimmermann served as an officer and a pilot in the US Air Force and Air National Guard and Reserve, until 1989. Zimmermann is a lieutenant colonel.[1]
In 1968, Zimmermann became a commercial pilot for Trans World Airlines, until his retirement in May 1995.
In 1980, Zimmermann became a Lutheran minister, and is a pastor in Idaho.
On June 14, 1985, as a flight engineer of TWA Flight 847, his airplane was hijacked by Lebanese Shiite Muslims on a flight from Athens, Greece to Rome, Italy. The airplane eventually landed in Beirut. Zimmermann survived a beating at the hands of the hijackers. Eventually, most of the passengers and crew members were released. Zimmermann returned to Boise, Idaho, on July 4, 1985.[2] [3] In November 1985, Zimmermann became the author of Hostage in a Hostage World: Hope Aboard Hijacked TWA 847.[4]
In May 1995, Zimmermann became a city council member of Cascade, Idaho, and became council president.
On November 5, 1996, Zimmermann won the election and became a Republican member of Idaho House of Representatives for District 8, seat A. Zimmermann defeated Gayle Wilde with 88.6% of the votes.[5] [6] On November 3, 1998, as an incumbent, Zimmermann won the election unopposed and continued serving District 8, seat A.[7] [8]
In April 2014, at age 74, Zimmermann became a pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Ontario.[9]
Zimmermann's wife is Melvia Kahale. They have three children. Zimmermann and his family live in Cascade, Idaho.[8]
United States