Mary Riener

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Zeller
• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.1
• Immigration: 1873, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1874, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1878, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; New Jerusalam
• Residence: 1884, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian

Mary married Philip Zeller 24 Sep 1884, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Philip (son of Jacob Zeller and Catharine Schiedel) was born 19 Sep 1863, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1950; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elsa Zeller
• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.2
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dress Maker, Shop
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian

Other Events:

• Name: Selina Wismer
• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.3
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Bookkeeper, Store
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian

Selina married Clarence Leslie Wismer 29 Oct 1913, Edmonton, , Alberta, Canada. Clarence (son of Isaac Erb Wismer and Susannah Snider) was born 12 May 1887, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.4 
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian

Other Events:

• Business: Zellers department store
• Interesting: life story, business
• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.5
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Traveling Sales
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Website: 2007
• Website: 2007; wikipedia
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Walter P. Zeller

Walter Zeller was hard-working, smart and above all, an optimist. He had to be. After all, who but an optimist would embark on a new retail enterprise in 1931, when the world was still pulling itself out of a depression? In a letter to associates over 20 years later, he explained his motivation: "It was my conviction that endowed with immense natural resources and a courageous and hard-working population, Canada was bound to emerge into a period of prosperity." He was right and Zellers Limited profited right along with the nation.
The story of Walter Zeller and the formation of Zellers is a fairly straightforward one, but no less interesting for that. Walter Philip Zeller was born on October 21, 1890 on the farm in Waterloo County, Ontario that his great-grandfather had purchased shortly after arriving in Canada from Germany. He remained on the farm until his family moved to nearby Berlin (now Kitchener) where he attended high school and worked as a delivery boy. Realizing that he didn't want to move packages as a career he sampled a number of different positions over the next few years before he hit upon something he felt had great potential - retail.
In 1912 he began working for the F.W. Woolworth Company as a stock boy but soon progressed to other positions. In 1914 he made the move to Kresge's, where he made less money but felt that he could learn more. His job entailed a move to the United States but he was back in Canada working for the Metropolitan chain of stores by 1923. In 1926 the Company moved him back to the States, this time as General Sales Manager for New York.

Walter P. Zeller, n.d.

By 1928, Walter Zeller was ready to come home to Canada and be his own boss. He opened his own group of four stores in Ontario, operating in London, St. Catherines, Fort William and Guelph. His success was quickly noticed and the American firm Schulte-United Ltd. promptly bought him out. The story is that they weren't interested in obtaining the Canadian real estate, but in getting their hands on Mr. Zeller. The depression of 1929-30 took its toll on the retail industry however and Schulte-United went bankrupt. Rather than viewing this as a set-back, Zeller saw an opportunity. He bought back Schulte-United's Canadian properties, now numbering 14, closed 3 of them, and in 1932, Zeller's Limited opened once again.

What was the reason for the Company's success? As with most ventures, it was a combination of factors. Most important was Zeller's focus on popular-priced trade and an emphasis on bringing Fifth Avenue fashions to Main Street. Then there was choice of staff. Mr. Zeller had a knack for finding and keeping the best and the brightest, to the degree that Canadian Business Magazine commented on the attitude and ability of the staff from manager to sales clerk in an article in 1944. Walter Zeller himself attributed much of Zeller's success to his staff, stating that their morale was his company's best asset. While he may well have believed this, it seems obvious that he himself was the Company's greatest asset..

Descriptions of Walter Zeller frequently include the following adjectives: energetic, forthright, magnetic. His drive in life was once likened to that of a man on an escalator who is impatient to get to the top: rather than waiting to be carried to his destination, he still takes the steps 2 at a time. With all of this energy, he was frequently seen in the stores and always had time for those who worked for him. He wrote letters to associates and Christmas messages each year. In 1942 his message included a heart-felt tribute to "four of the gallant company of Zeller's Employees on Active Service" who had died, naming each of them. This must have been especially poignant as both of his sons were at the time enlisted in the war effort, with one already serving overseas.
Despite the active role he took in his business, he also had time for others. During the war he was Director-at-large of the National War Savings Committee and also served as a special advisor to the Chairman of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. He was also heavily involved with the YMCA, serving as their Montreal Director, and with the Kiwanis Club, which he served as Montreal President and Governor of the Quebec-Ontario-Maritimes District.

With all of these responsibilities, Zeller also had time for his family. He married Nettie Lewis in 1912 and together they had 2 sons, C. Edward, named for Walter's brother, and Warren.
In accordance with Company policy Walter Zeller retired in 1955 at the age of 65. He died in 1957 and was buried in Montreal where Zellers head offices were located and where he had been living for some time. His influence remains however, especially in the region of his birth. There is a memorial window in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Kitchener, Ontario dedicated to him and in 2000, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest coin, worth $2 during the Oktoberfest festivities, bore his likeness. And, of course, his name still graces stores and shopping bags all over Canada.

__________________________________


From the Wall of Fame website

Walter P. Zeller, who became the founder of a great chain of stores, Zeller's Ltd., began his career as a delivery boy, sweeping floors and washing windows. His pioneer grandfather settled on a farm near Breslau, in 1831. The family's great interest in the pioneers of this County led the Zeller Family Foundation to provide funds to assist in the development of Doon Pioneer Village.
Zeller's personal success with Zeller's Ltd., came after a period of training with other department stores.

He gave generously of his time in an executive capacity to a large number of community, provincial and national enterprises, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Canadian Osteopathic Aid Society, the Shawbridge Boys' Farm and Training School and the YMCA. He also served as Executive Assistant to the Minister of National War Services and Chairman of the National War Savings Campaign

Business:
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Website:
https://www.hbc.com/hbcheritage/history/people/builders/zeller.asp

Website:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_P._Zeller

Other Events:

• Name: Eddie Zeller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-22683
• Occupation: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Salesman, Store
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00138-8394.6

Other Events:

• Name: Florence Ella Woeller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-22692
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Swedenborgian
• Occupation: 1923, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk

Florence married Eitell Carl Woeller 5 Jun 1923, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Eitell (son of Carl J. Woeller and Elizabeth Schuster) was born 22 Apr 1900, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1956, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-27044

Notes:

THE REV. DAVID JOHN WOELLER B.A., S.T.B., D.D. (Trinity) Died peacefully in the company of his family, on July 12, 2006, at the age of 80. A devoted family man and community builder, David took great delight in his children and grandchildren and faithfully served as a priest in the Anglican Church for 55 years. Predeceased by his parents, Eitel Carl and Florence (Zeller). He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Woeller (Driscoll) and four children, Michael (Susan), David (Suzanne), Hilary (Christopher), Stephen (Cynthia). He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Erin (Kevin), Katie (Ray), Sarah (Robb), David, Michael, James, Shannon, Leah, Matthew, Jacob, Michaela and Hannah. He leaves sister, Sylvia (Campbell) and brother, Michael. David retired in 1995 after nine years as General Secretary of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. He studied at United College at the University of Manitoba and Trinity College, University of Toronto. David was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1952 and his ministry began in Kitscoty, Alberta. Various responsibilities in the church brought David and his family to Ontario, Quebec and Canada's north. His work also took him abroad to the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. David experienced great joy in each opportunity to be enriched by meeting new people and his love of cultural diversity. For many years David and Elizabeth have been active members of the Church St. Philip-the-Apostle, Toronto (Caribou). He brought great energy and commitment to causes of social justice and all activities of the parish. David accepted his long struggle with Parkinson's with unparalleled dignity. Special thanks go to the staff at the Bridgepoint Healthcare Center where he spent the last two years and during his final days at Mt. Sinai Hospital. A celebration of David's ministry and family life has taken place on Saturday, July 15 at St. Philip-The-Apostle Church, 201 Caribou Rd. (Bathurst and Lawrence). In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to either the Parkinson Society of Canada (www.parkinson.ca) or the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (www.pwrdf.org). Humphrey Funeral Home, A.W. Miles Chapel, 416-487-4523.


The Record Newspaper - Jul. 17, 2006

David — Elizabeth Driscoll. [Group Sheet]