William J. “Bill” Ziegler was born on February 12, 1926 in Clinton, Illinois, the son of Jacob Frank and Vera (Harter) Ziegler. He grew up in Dwight, Illinois where he graduated from Dwight High School in 1944. Bill Enlisted into the United States Navy right out of high school. After receiving his Honorable Discharge from the Navy he went to the University of Illinois in Champaign and graduated from there with a B.S. in Economics. He was united in marriage to Shirley J. Cannaven on March 10, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. They moved to Oelwein in 1965 where he worked as an insurance salesman and an insurance agent for Iowa Mutual. In 1974 he joined Mark Hintz and Hintz-Ziegler Insurance was established. He also bought Oelwein Tour & Travel. He retired in 1985 and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 2002 they moved back to Oelwein to be closer to his family. Bill enjoyed collecting antiques, working the stock market, a good science fiction story or movie, did some fishing in Arkansas and loved to tell a good story. His family was very important to him and they were all by his side when he passed away. We will all miss his stories and great smile.

            Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley of Fairbank; his children, Shari (Jeff) Weeden of Cleveland, Ohio, Marsha (Robin) Shepherd of Vieques, Puerto Rico and Bill (Mary Beth) Ziegler of Clermont, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jamie Jo (Matt) Whalert, Jacob Weeden, Cariad Shepherd, Eric Shepherd, Billy (Kelly) Ziegler, III and Hattie (Andrew) Ring; three great grandchildren, Beau and Lilee Wahlert and Josie Ziegler; and family pet, Lucy. His was preceded in death by his sister and her husband, Betty and Bob Gay and his parents, Jacob and Vera. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church, American Legion Ross Reid Post #9, Masons, Oelwein Historical Society, Oelwein Red Coats (Ambassadors) and board member of the Plaza.

VISITATION: 4-8PM on Monday, November 1 at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home.

SERVICES: 11AM on Tuesday, November 2 at First Baptist Church in Oelwein