Leroy Ziegler (82) of Shumway

Leroy Ziegler, 82, of Shumway, IL, was unexpectedly called to Heaven at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at Heartland Christian Village in Neoga, IL.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth Street, Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Leroy to Heartland Christian Village Activities Fund or St. John’s Lutheran Church Food Pantry.

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Leroy was born on September 30, 1934 at home in Effingham, the third child of Elmer and Madave (Melson) Ziegler. He married Beulah Bernhard on June 25, 1961 in Effingham. Leroy attended Effingham High School and later joined the Illinois National Guard. He joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and served two years in Germany. Upon receiving an honorable discharge and returning home, Leroy owned and operated Ziegler Mobil Station on Henrietta Street in Effingham with his father Elmer, and later owned and operated Ziegler Texaco Station on Keller Drive. Leroy also worked at Bobber Truck Stop, and was employed for 27 years at Crossroads Press. He was proud of his accomplishment of putting all five of his children through college, and would say,” I have a computer programmer, a chemist, an engineer, a teacher, and a nurse.” Leroy was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church having served on the Board of Trustees and on the Christmas decorating committee. As a young man, Leroy enjoyed riding motorcycles and later enjoyed his hobby farm.

Leroy leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Beulah Ziegler of Shumway, IL; children, Sandra Wieneke of Effingham, IL, Linda (Mike) Robinson of Goose Creek, SC, David (Sarah) Ziegler of Gurnee, IL, Elizabeth (Gregg) Cole of Columbia, IL, and Nancy (Chuck) Lykins of Winchester, KY; and sister, Virginia (Walter Jr.) Mueller of Mattoon, IL. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren: Clara and Nora Robinson, Rachel and Ruth Ziegler, and Lucas, Gavin and Trevor Cole.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother; sister, Doris McWhorter; and son-in-law, Russ Wieneke Jr.