Lawrence Lee Ziegler

Lawrence "Lee" Ziegler, age 90, was called home to heaven by his Lord Jesus Christ Friday, June 25, 2021, at approximately 7am, while on his morning walk.

In 1931 Lee and his identical twin, Louis, were born in Newell, Iowa, to Wayne and Irene Ziegler. At the age of eleven, in 1942, the family of ten children and parents moved to Arizona. The family grew to a total of 17 children (11 boys and 6 girls). Lee attended Longview Elementary and graduated from North Phoenix High School, in 1949.

He continued his education at Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Texas, for one and a half years. Then a greeting was received from the United States requesting his services. A U.S. Air Force recruiting sergeant, which lived across the street suggested he and his twin brother enlist in the Air Force. After enlisting, he was sent to basic training and went to schools to become an aircraft mechanic and electrician. Upon completion of training, he was shipped to the Far East and to Korea. He earned the rank of staff sergeant and was discharged in 1955.

After 4 years of service, Lee resumed college at Hardin-Simmons. There he met the love of his life and married Betty Dalmont of Carlsbad, New Mexico. They relocated to Tucson and attended the University of Arizona. Lee obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1960.

Due to his training in construction from the time he was 15, Lee became a journeyman union carpenter. He worked as a carpenter between college semesters and holidays. This prior training was beneficial in what became his lifelong vocation-48 years in the construction industry. During his career he worked at all levels: Laborer, carpenter, craft foreman, surveyor, project engineer, project superintendent, project manager, estimator, general superintendent, and Industrial Division Chief Estimator and Vice-President, with special expertise in complex concrete form design.

The following are the types of heavy engineering and industrial projects he estimated and managed: Roadway construction, highway bridges, major concrete structures, copper and gold mining facilities, waste water plants, cement plants, major architectural buildings, and power plant facilities. One of Lee's favorite projects was the estimating and constructing of the eastside addition to the UofA football stadium in 1975-1976.

At the urging of his sons, he got involved in youth sports. Lee helped create a football dynasty, coaching the Tucson Mountain Lions Mighty Mite Gold Team for 12 years. He moved on to Little League baseball and helped coach a team with a good friend who was the head coach.

Greer, Arizona was always a special place for Lee. When he was in high school his parents owned a place there with cabins they rented. Later he bought a parcel of land and with lots of help from his sons built a small cabin. They all enjoyed the forest, fishing, hunting, and hiking.

He loved elk hunting near Flagstaff with his sons and grandchildren, and would get excited when Grandsons or Granddaughters bagged their first elk.

Lee and Betty eventually settled down in Sun City Vistoso to enjoy the golf and other activities for over 20 years.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents Wayne and Irene; sisters, Betty, Dorothy, Gretchen, Karen; brothers, Louis, Wayne, Jr., Roger, Ted. He is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Mark and Kim Ziegler, Ross and Theresa Ziegler; and Wade and Collette Ziegler; Grandchildren, C.J. and Jenny Ziegler; Nickolas and Jessica Ziegler, Stephanie (Ziegler) and Avery Rigg, Rebecca Ziegler, Chantland, Elizabeth Ziegler, Bobby Ziegler, Desiree (Ziegler) and Seth Spaulding; and great-grandchildren, Emma, Brooke and Luke Ziegler; Brooklyn and Zoey Spaulding. His surviving siblings are brothers, Jacob, Dean, George, David, Terry and Joseph; sisters, Esther Lamb and Wenda Barrett.

A celebration of life memorial will be held at July 12, 2021, 10:30am, Vistoso Funeral Home, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, Arizona. Donations in Lee's memory can be made to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd, Tucson, Arizona. A private internment will be at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Marana, Arizona.