Louis T. Ziegler

Louis T. Ziegler, 90, passed away Tuesday February 9, 2021, at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, NY after a brief battle with COVID-19.

He was born on May 6, 1930 in Weehawken NJ, the son of the late Peter and Irene Ziegler.

Moving from West New York, NJ as a young boy, his family came to Dunkirk where he attended school and graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1948.

After graduation he began working for Geiben Bros sanitation until he enlisted and served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and was stationed in Paris, France. When he returned from his military service he enlisted in the Army Reserves for 5 years and went back to work with Geiben Bros until he took a job with the Dunkirk City School District in 1958 as a custodian. He worked for the district for 33 years and retired in 1991 from Dunkirk Senior High School as head custodian.

On June 5th 1954 he married the love of his life, the late Geraldine (Adamski) Ziegler and soon after began their family. They were married 60 years until her passing on August 8th 2014. Over the years they would travel to various parts of the country to visit with family and occasionally a trip to Las Vegas with friends. After retirement he and his wife owned and operated the C&G Corner store across the street from the home they shared.

In 1970 Louis took his first oath of office as the City Assessor of Dunkirk and held that office until 1994. He was also a member of the Dunkirk Democratic Committee and the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee.

Many years ago he and his wife began collecting porcelain dolls and before you knew it their collection grew to hundreds. They were extremely proud of their dolls and each month they would display a different set in their front window for everyone to see and enjoy.Louis loved to decorate for all the holidays, his favorite being Christmas. It would take him weeks to get everything just right. He also loved gardening and his flower displays were always his pride and joy.In his younger days Louis loved to play basketball and was on numerous city league teams. He also loved to play golf and did so for many years, all the way up to last summer.

He was an avid sports fan and loved watching Duke, the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Sabres and most of all his long time favorite New York Yankees.He also enjoyed hearing about sporting events his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in and was very proud of all their achievements.

Anyone that knew Louis knows his greatest passion was his love for the fire department. He began that lifelong journey as a volunteer fireman in the city of Dunkirk with Murray Hose Co #4 in 1953 and was a member for the last 68 years. For 66 of those years he held the office of Recording Secretary. Over those 68 years he was chairman of many different committees and events that kept him very busy. He was a member of the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen, the Western NY Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Firemen’s Association of the State of NY where he held various offices in each. The year he was President of the Western, Murray Hose hosted the convention that was held in Dunkirk and that was his proudest moment.

For many years he attended all the conventions across the state and made many friends over the years.He loved parades and drum corps and was instrumental in reorganizing the Murraymen Drum and Bugle Corp where he began playing the drums and later was color guard captain. He was also involved in organizing the Dunkirk Exempts Drum and Bugle Corp where he marched and led the color guard and later he also joined the Erie Thunderbird’s Drum and Bugle Corp in the color guard.

His memberships also included the Kosciuszko Club, First Ward Falcon Club, Moniuszko Club, World War II Vets Club, Dunkirk Exempt Firemen’s Club and the American Legion Post #62. Over the years he held various offices in some of these clubs.“Louie” lived his life to the fullest and would often be seen at any of these various clubs on any given Sunday while on “maneuvers” as he liked to call it. As soon as he walked into any of these clubs the bartender would ask him “how about a BV and water Lou?” and he would always respond “easy on the water.” He was always the life of the party wherever he went and will always be remembered for that.

Survivors include his children, Louann (Walter) Zimmerman and Barbara Ziegler of Fredonia, Deborah (Roy Jesse) Pasierb and Raymond Ziegler of Dunkirk and Daughter-in-law Janie Ziegler of Union, MO. Grandchildren Jason (Amy) Ziegler, Jonathan (Kelly) Ziegler, Michael Ziegler, Jessica (Chris Ganey) Moore, Katherine (Fred) Lemiszko and Julie Ziegler. Great-grandchildren Zack, Kaylee, Kyla, Joseph and Payton Ziegler, Riley Ganey, Makayla Pasierb, Hans, Oliver, Case and Stella Lemiszko and Yusuf Aslami. Also survived by his brother Edgar Ziegler of Dunkirk and sister Irene (Gerald) Cain of Fountain Hills, AZ. Several nieces and nephews also survive.Besides his parents and his wife he was preceded in death by his son Thomas Ziegler who died January 17th, 2021 and his daughter Melissa Ziegler who died November 1st, 1987.

Following the guidelines and protocols administered by the governor of NY, relatives and friends may call on Monday from 6-8 pm and Tuesday 3-6 pm at the R. Mackowiak Funeral Home Inc., 56 East Doughty St, Dunkirk. Funeral service will be held Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at Blessed Mary Angela Parish, St Hedwig’s site. Interment will be in St Hedwig’s Cemetery..

Due to COVID-19 regulations a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for both Louis and his son Thomas.