Fred Ziegler

Fred T. Ziegler, 95, Crossville, died at 9:40 a.m., May 22, 2015, at Stafford, Virginia. He was born August 4, 1919, at Piggott, Arkansas, the son of Earl and Rachel (Horn) Ziegler. He was married November 1, 1945, at Ottumwa, Iowa, to Vera L. Schmittler (deceased June 1994).

Mr. Ziegler was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II at Normandy (Omaha Beach), Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Staff Sargent Ziegler received an honorable discharge on September 12, 1945.

Mr. Ziegler established Modern Gas in May, 1957, with offices in Grayville, Illinois, and, in 1966, opened offices in Fairfield, Illinois.
In 1961, Mr. Ziegler received a “Citation for Bravery” from the City of Carmi for his lifesaving action in subduing a man with a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun who, after being stopped, attacked the Carmi Chief of Police.

Mr. Ziegler was the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post Commander in 1965 for VFW Post No. 3851 in Carmi. He was also a longtime member of The American Legion, Post 224, also of Carmi.

He is survived by five children: Beverly L. & Chauncey Spencer, Alapaha, Georgia; Paula A. & George Verdon, Villa Rica, Georgia; Fredrick T. and Cindy Ziegler, Stafford, Virginia; Bonnie L. Cronin, Sparks, Georgia; Vanessa K. and Lee Rister, Carmi; and three sisters, Evelyn Pethel and Earline Isles, Michigan; Lana Faye Edwards, Arkansas; and 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, one sister, and one grandson.

Additionally, it should be noted he was the unofficial head honcho of an unruly group of scoundrels known to gather mornings at the Carmi McDonalds. Furthermore, he was also President of the White County Chapter of the Mile-a-More Bird Association, increasing membership during his tenure from not too many to a whole lot.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. On Friday May 29, 2015 at the Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Carmi, Illinois. Viewing will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, 28 May 2015. Interment will be at Stokes Chapel Cemetery, Crossville, Illinois with military rites by the Carmi American Legion and V.F.W. Online condolences may be left at stendebackfamilyfuneralhome.com Request contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Program (woundedwarrior.org) in Mr. Ziegler’s name.