Julius A. Ziegler, 85, died January 3, 2012, at Hospice House, Hutchinson, KS.

He was born March 29, 1926, on a farm west of Collyer to Peter and Otillia (Waldman) Ziegler. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hutchinson, KS. He grew up in Collyer and graduated from St. Michael's Catholic Grade School and Collyer High School. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy during WWII as a Yeoman 3/C aboard the heavy cruiser USS Canberra.
He entered the US postal Service as a postal clerk in June 1948 and was appointed acting Postmaster in November 1950 and Postmaster in April, 1951, until his retirement on September 3, 1990. He also served as a rural delivery analyst and an auditor for the MSC in Topeka, KS.
He married Marlene Zeigler on June 15, 1955, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley, KS.

Survivors include daughter, Cynthia Parsons and husband, Larry; granddaughter, Megan Davidson; and great-granddaughter, Carlee Jo Davidson, all of Hutchinson; sister, Elfrieda Heimerman, Colwich; brother Pius and wife, Ilona , of WaKeeney, and Robert and wife, Rosie, of Hays, KS; sister in law Ethel Ziegler of Collyer KS.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marlene; his parents; sisters, Albina Zerr, Ida Snider, Fidelia Snider, Anna Pfannenstiel, and Lorena Ziegler who died at infancy; one brother, Leo Ziegler; and a grandson, Jarod Ray Freeman.

He was a 3rd and 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Park, KS. He was a member of the American Legion Post #378 in Collyer, and a member of the VFW Post in Grinnell, KS. He was also a member of the National Association of Postmasters and the Big Creek Golf Course.

He enjoyed spending time golfing with his brothers and friends and dancing every Saturday night with Marlene at dances anywhere they could find one. He also enjoyed going to horse shows and watching his daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter ride their horses in the KWHA horse shows every summer. Julius never knew a stranger and always joined in for a beer or scotch

Visitation for Julius will be 5-7:30 PM Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Schmitt Funeral Home in WaKeeney, KS with Vigil and Rosary service at 7:30 PM. Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM on Friday, January 6, 2012 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Collyer, KS with interment in the church cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Leukemia Foundation or the Red Cross and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.