Donald Edward Ziegler was born on February 8, 1932 in Alden Township of Polk County, Wisconsin the son of Edward and Lydia (Anderson) Ziegler. He grew up on the family farm in Alden Township. He served in the United States Marine Corps from March of 1952 to March of 1954. Donald married Alice Marie Deneen on February 14, 1956 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Paul Park. Don and Alice lived in Inver Grove, MN; Hudson, WI and Thompson Grove, MN before moving to the Ziegler Family Farm in Star Prairie in 1963. After farming for 37 years, they moved to their "retirement home" one mile away in 2000. When time allowed he enjoyed woodworking, fishing and traveling. Don and Alice have 7 children, Greg Ziegler, Bonnie (Steve) Davel, Audrey (Tim) Reichersamer, Nancy (Merle) Ausen, Roberta (Robert) Aeschliman, Ben (Therese Wagner) Ziegler, and Molly Ziegler. They had 14 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren. They include Andy Ziegler, Tom Davel and his wife Nicole; children Leah and Nolan, Scott Davel and his wife Kayla and son Carter, Charlie Davel (deceased), Jessica Smiley and her husband Christopher; children Connor, Jossalin and Jacee. Oscar Reichersamer, Sam Ausen and his daughter MacKenzie, Rosie Ausen, Amy Ausen, Lisa Ausen, Christopher Aeschliman, Michael Aeschliman, Laura Aeschliman, and newest granddaughter (born May 2012), Allison Marie Rhine. Donald passed away at his home in Alden on Monday evening July 1, 2013 at the age of 81 years after a day of fishing and a steak dinner.
Donald was preceded in death by his Parents, wife Alice, sister Dawn Lomnes; brothers: Lawrence and Cyrus Ziegler, and his grandson, Charlie Davel. He is survived by his children, 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren; sisters: Goldie Johnson, Vivian Hildebrandt and Gloria Feyen as well as other relatives and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2013 from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at the Wagon Landing Cemetery in Alden Township, Wisconsin.