|
| Robert Charles Ziegler |
|
Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010 8:46 am
|
 Email  Print
|
| |
Robert Charles Ziegler, 89, of Rio Rico, Arizona, formerly of St. Peter, passed away on January 28, 2010 at the Prestige Assisted Living facility in Green Valley, Ariz. He was laid to rest with military honors on February 1, 2010 at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson, Ariz.
He was born on November 7, 1920 in North Mankato, Minnesota to Frederick and Sophia (Manderfeld) Ziegler.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in World War II with the 413th Anti-Aircraft Battallion in the European Theater. He was a member of the first 90mm anti-aircraft artillery gun crew ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France at D+7 hours on June 6, 1944. He saw action in the Falaise Pocket and the Breakout in France, Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium, and at Remagen Bridge on the Rhine River leading into Germany. He was awarded five bronze stars.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. After leaving military service, the war never really left him. He shared WWII stories with his army buddies, family, and friends until the end of his life.
He married Thelma Beattie on December 23, 1942 in Nicollet, Minn. and raised five children. They farmed in Lake Prairie Township in rural St. Peter from 1946 to 1972.
In the 1960s, he owned a bulk milk truck business and was a Blaney Seed Corn sales representative. He was also employed by Modular Manufacturing in St. Peter and at Year Around Tractor Cab Company in Mankato. In June, 1972 the Zieglers sold their farm and the family moved to Rio Rico, Ariz. There, he was employed by Gulf American Corporation as a maintenance worker. He later went into residential construction.
He enjoyed woodworking and liked to recycle discarded lumber to create patio furniture, children's toys, and lawn ornaments. He started a business marketing his products locally. He also enjoyed landscaping with native Arizona plant species.
He is survived by his wife Thelma of Rio Rico; three sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and wife Kathy Garceau of Quemado, N.M., Thomas and Cheryl Ziegler of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Brian and Jane Ziegler of Coarsegold, Calif.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Clark Berg of Whitefish, Mont., and Susan and Robert (Andy) Tolley of Caballo, N.M.; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond, Clayton, and Lyle Ziegler, and sisters Eleanor Tweed and Phyllis Evans.
Show Comments | Hide Comments
Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
|
|
As a soldier, my father helped save the world. As a farmer, he helped feed the world. In his own way, he helped maked the world a better place. I'm glad he is my father and I'm proud to be his son.