Dr. John R. Ziegler

Dr. John R. Ziegler, 79, of Conneaut Lake, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at Hamot Medical Center, Erie.

He was born in Oil City September 5, 1928, a son of the late Willard and Iva Wilson Ziegler.  He married Emma Lou Wood March 4, 1989.

He was a 1946 graduate of Oil City High School and a pre-medicine graduate of Grove City College.  He received his Doctor of Podiatric Surgery degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in 1951.  He was a U.S. Army Veteran during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 where he served in the Medic Corps. in France and Austria.  Upon returning to civilian life, Dr. Ziegler started practicing in Oil City and moved his practice to Meadville where he practiced until his retirement in 1994.  He was a member and past president of the PA Podiatry Assoc.

A former active member of Stone United Methodist, Meadville, he attended Linesville United Methodist Church.

A dedicated Rotarian for over 50 years, Dr. Ziegler was a member and past president of the Linesville Rotary Club and past president of the Meadville noontime and A.M. Rotary Clubs.  He was a recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award.

Additionally, he was a member for over 50 years of the Oil City Petrolia Masonic Lodge 363, Scottish Rite Bodies, New Castle Consistory, Zem Zem Shrine Temple of Erie, and Crawford County Shrine Club.  He was past president of the Meadville YMCA and Crawford Unit of the American Cancer Society, board member of Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, member of the Meadville Roundtable and former member of the Meadville Masters Swim Team and the Meadville Figure Skating Club.

A great love of nature, he enjoyed spending endless hours kayaking and canoeing the Allegheny River, activities at the family cottage at Henry’s Bend on the Allegheny River, hunting, observing the activities of animal and bird life, was a dedicated Cleveland Browns fan, and devoted family man who especially enjoyed his grandchildren’s activities.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Emma Lou of 19 years, include 5 children, Dr. John Ziegler and his wife Sandra of Conneaut Lake; Gretchen Costa and her husband Michael of Meadville; Stephen Watt and his wife Joni of Meadville; Debra Mealy and her husband Daniel of Meadville; and Kathleen Barber and her husband Thomas of New Wilmington; 7 grandchildren, Heather and Eric Ziegler, Nic and Katya Costa, Bradley and Kristan Mealy, and Lauren Barber; and a brother, Richard Ziegler of Tionesta.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Willard (Bill) Ziegler.

Calling hours will be Friday from 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville with a Masonic Service at 8:00 p.m.

A memorial service will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Linesville United Methodist Church, 324 W. Erie St., Linesville with the Rev. Joy Blackburn officiating.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, PA 16505 or the Linesville Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Joseph Rial, 10267 Lauderman Rd., Conneaut Lake, PA 16316.