Fritz F ZIEGLER

Steve Weneck

Again, so sorry to hear that another classmate has passed away - too many and too soon!   
Fritz, as many will remember was a talented basketball player who worked tirelessly to deveop
his basketball skills which were to be acknowledged by his being selected on several occasions 
to The All Metro First Team, and to the Missouri All State Basketball Team.  For me, it was my 
privilege to be Fritz's teammate for 2 of his 4 varsity years playing for Southwest High School.  
I was also glad to know him personally off the court!!

Howard Saver

Fritz was such an awesome representative for our class, not just on the basketball court, but as a person. Like a lot of us have not known about each other, how our lives unfolded over the years, I never knew how Fritz lived the rest of his life beyond high school, my loss to not keep in touch. He liked to post Facebook pictures and other fun and quirky stuff, which gave a picture into his life of late. Sorry to see Fritz leave us, to make his transition to whatever comes next.  Hope my comments here help to give a well deserved tribute to one of the best from our class.

Brenda White (Gilbert)

Fritz had the ability to energize and unite an entire school when he stepped onto the basketball court.  I can only imagine that he carried that gift forward in his life.  He clearly was loved and will be missed. 

Bill Cater

Fritz Ziegler was one of my best friends at Southwest High and there-after.  We bonded as basketball teammates our Junior and Senior years.  As most people recall, Fritz was our star basketball player and earned first team All-state basketball team honors for Missouri.

We shared a lot of great moments off the basketball court. We worked part time jobs ushering at the Municipal Auditorium for the Ice Capades and other venues. We stenciled the seat numbers on the temporary stands for the Chiefs at Municipal Stadium. Our Senior year (after basketball season) we were on the JV track team just for fun. We also shared a great week with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin along with about 40 other young men from Kansas City. There are many more fond memories.

Fritz went on to play Division 1 basketball at Saint Louis University and had a successful 4 years there. We kept in touch and met up in the summertime during our college years. He asked me to be his best man when he was getting married our senior year in college, but I couldn't go from West Point because the top leadership wouldn't let me miss one day of classes. 

In March of 1971, I wanted Fritz to be in my wedding, but he was serving our nation with the Army in Germany or Italy. Because of his physical prowess, he was assigned to head up the athletic facilities at his duty station. Somehow, he linked up with the Greek national team and played with them on weekends. They won the European championship with Fritz on their team.

The years went by and we continued to keep in touch when I visited Kansas City to see my brother. Over the years Fritz had his own bar in Independence, worked many years at the casinos in the KC area and then at the marina at Lake JaCoMo.  He had a long marriage to his second wife, Anita, as they lived in Raytown.

Fritz loved fishing. He had a great laugh and would help a friend in need.  Anita told me the last 6 months he was in and out of the hospital with congestive heart issues.

Fritz represented our high school Class of 1966 well and made us proud. He served our nation with dignity. He had a gentle heart with his hearty personality. I am grateful to have Fritz as my lifetime friend.

Rest in Peace and may God bless Fritz forever.