R Douglas Ziegler

He was born on February 13, 1927 in Milwaukee to the late Bernard C. and Edna H. (nee Eickelberg) Ziegler. After graduating from West Bend High School with the Class of 1944, he went on to serve with the Merchant Marine Cadet Corps. He then attended Northwestern University, earning a degree in Business Administration in 1949. On March 3, 1945, Doug was united in marriage to Jeanne Baumgartner. Jeanne predeceased February 15, 1979. He later married Sharon (nee Snyder) Mish on September 1, 1979. In February, 1946, he started working with his father at the former West Bend Aluminum Company office until his father's death in May of that year. He worked in every department to learn about the aluminum company. His primary responsibility until 1965 was managing the Outboard Motor Division, which he sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1965. He merged the West Bend Company with Dart Industries in 1968. He served as President of the Consumer Products Group of Dart Industries until December 31, 1972. In January, 1973, he left Dart Industries to become President and CEO of The Ziegler Companies, Inc.. Doug proudly held this position until April 21, 1989. He remained with the company, serving as chairman until March 17, 1997. From May, 1991 until June 30, 2002, he served as the chief investment officer of Ziegler Asset Management, Inc. During Doug's professional career, he served on the board of directors of twelve public companies and many private companies, including: First Wisconsin Bankshares, Wisconsin Electric Power Co., Dart Industries, Inc., Western Publishing Co., Globe Union Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., The Ziegler Companies Inc., Mattel Inc., Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co., Maxicare Health Plans Inc., Principal Preservation Funds Inc., Applied Power Inc., Everett Smith Group Ltd., Albert Trostel & Sons and Maysteel Corp. Survivors include his wife Sharon; 6 children Charlotte "Cherrie" (Thomas) Catlin; Faith (Timothy) Sullivan, Peter (Joan) Ziegler, R. Scott (Yvonne) Ziegler, Deborah (James) Ziegler and Heidi (David) Vollmar; 1 step-son Sean (Kimberly) Mish; 1 daughter-in-law Cynthia (Tom) Ziegler-Fritz; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Margaret "Peg" Ziegler; cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents and wife Jeanne, he was preceded in death by his son John Timothy, brother Bernard C. Ziegler II and sister Barbara (John) Ziegler-Wilson.