Obituary of John Henry Ziegler

John H. Ziegler, Jr., 92, loving husband, father, grandfather and devoted friend, died Sunday, August 20, 2017, at Mount Nittany Medical Center with his family at his bedside. John was born November 10, 1924 in Altoona, the son of Rosa Caroline (nee Meyer) and John Henry Ziegler, Sr. On June 11, 1949 John married "his one true dream girl," Dorothy Jane Shockey, who survives him. He is also survived by three sons: Steve and his wife Paula Behrens of Conshohocken; Greg and his wife Renee of State College; and Tim and his wife Mara of Boalsburg; and six grandchildren Rebecca Anne, Jacob, Kieryn, Henry, Sam and Brynna Ziegler. John served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a "Skeeter Beater" with a malaria control unit stationed in the Mediterranean and North Africa. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled at Potomac State School (now part of West Virginia University), earning an associate's degree in agriculture in 1948. He then transferred to The Pennsylvania State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1950 and a master's degree in 1952, both in animal husbandry. In 1954 he returned to Penn State as a faculty member in the College of Agriculture, where he taught courses in livestock judging, animal breeding, meat cutting and processing, and introductory food science. After receiving his doctoral degree in 1965, he was promoted to assistant professor. He retired in 1987 as professor emeritus of food science. During his long career, Dr. Ziegler taught more than 3,000 students, authored or coauthored 130 scientific papers, and was a founding member of the Food Science Department at Penn State. John Ziegler was an energetic and enthusiastic volunteer and an engaged citizen. Among his lifelong service to the community was a term as College Township Supervisor from 1974 to 1980. He was a board member and president of ClearWater Conservancy; long-time board member of the Centre County Historical Society; a founding member of the Penn State Stockmen's Club; board member Centre County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association; past president of the Penn State Retired Faculty/Staff Club; board member of Centre County Retired Senior Volunteer Program; and served many years as judge of elections for College Township South, Ward 42. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in State College, where John was a 60 year member, on Sunday, August 27, beginning at 2 p.m., with receiving by the family beginning at 1:00 p.m. A celebration of John's life will be held at the Centre Furnace Mansion on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John's name to ClearWater Conservancy's Slab Cabin Run Initiative (http://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/donate/slabcabinrun/), or the John and Jane Ziegler Graduate Award in Sensory Science at Penn State (www.GiveTo.psu.edu/ZieglerSensoryAward.) Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.