Raymond F. “Ray” Ziegler Jr., 92, of Victoria, died at 5:25 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva where military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. Chaplain Jordan Knight will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be at Victoria Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Galesburg Railroad Museum.
He was born Aug. 21, 1931, in Victoria, the son of Raymond and Martha (Sweeden) Ziegler Sr. He married JoAnn Strom on Nov. 12, 1955, in Victoria and she preceded him in death on July 2, 2007. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Gordan and a sister, Darlene. He is survived by his son, Raymond “George” (Brigitte) Ziegler of Victoria, his daughter Johanna Martinson of Galesburg, six grandchildren, Jessica (John) Kuelper, Emily and Molly (Eric) Martinson and Megan, Marissa and Jacob Ziegler and five great-great grandchildren, Ethan, Lily, Isabella, Clara and Lucy.
Ray graduated from ROVA High School in 1950 and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was part of the 169th Regiment. He had worked for 40 years as a locomotive engineer starting with CB&Q and finishing with the BNSF Railroad. He was a member of the Victoria Methodist Church and the Victoria American Legion. He was a founding member of Little John Conservation Club and was also a member of the Spice of Life Club. He was a 2015 Honor Flight of the Quad Cities participant and was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He dearly loved his children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them.
This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.
