Gilbert "Zig" Ziegler, age 79 of Waseca died on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
Born on October 10, 1932 in Owatonna, Minnesota he was the son of Phillip and Harriet (Kroeger) Ziegler. He graduated from Janesville High School and studied accounting at Mankato State. Gilbert served in the United States Air Force from 1950 until his discharge in 1954. He married Joann Michaelis on July 27, 1957 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New Richland. He was employed with Birds Eye in Waseca from 1954 until 1960 when he began working for the U.S. Postal Service in Waseca. Gilbert retired from the USPS in 2002. He enjoyed gardening, snowmobiling, coin collecting and going to the casinos. He also enjoyed traveling especially his trips to Germany and Las Vegas. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca and the American Legion and VFW of Waseca.
He is survived by son, Kris Ziegler of Edina; daughter, Kari Thompson of Sabina, OH; daughter-in-law, Brenda Ziegler of Rochester; and six grandchildren, Briana, Jacob, and Jordan Ziegler of Rochester, Alyssa Ziegler of Minneapolis, Kyla Thompson of Sabina, OH, and Benjamin Thompson of Cannon AFB, NM, and. He is also survived by special friend, Kathy Maxon of Waseca; one sister, Norma Kanne of Austin; brother, Ralph (Darla) Ziegler of Le Center; and brother-in-law, Dennis (Julie) Michaelis of Farmington. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joann; son, Kordell; son-in-law, Ricky Thompson; three brothers, Evan, Herman, and Greg; one sister, Delores Kriese; sister-in-law, Genelle Michaelis Nuhring; and nephew, Ryan Michaelis.Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. Roger Haug officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 23, 2012 from 4 p.m. until the time of services at the church. Burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New Richland. Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca is handling arrangements.