Isabel Ziegler

ISABEL HOWE ZIEGLER passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the age of 97. Isabel (Belle) was the generous and gracious matriarch of the Ziegler family and was much loved and admired by her children and grandchildren. Born in Westerville, OH Isabel attended Otterbein College in Westerville. She excelled in theater and the arts, and during her senior year, was elected Central Ohio College Queen. Isabel met Sam Ziegler when he was at Otterbein and their relationship continued during her four years there and while Sam was in medical school at Case Western Reserve in Columbus, OH. They were married following their graduations in June of 1940. Isabel came to Española with her husband and two small sons, Sammy and Norman, in the summer of 1946. Dr. Sam had been asked to come to New Mexico by the United Brethren Church to help start a hospital in the community and he became its first physician. Both Dr. Sam and Isabel quickly became involved with this growing community. Isabel helped to start local library in 1949. She was also blessed not long after, in November of 1950, with the birth of her third child, a long awaited daughter, Julia Gayle. Isabel joined the Española Valley Garden Club and remained a faithful member all her life. She was a member of the Las Conquistadores Trio in the mid-1960’s, in which she sang alto. The Trio was much-acclaimed and gave many fine performances which are remembered still. She was a life-time member of the Española Valley United Methodist Church and choir. Isabel was a civic leader and in 1964 was elected woman of the year by the Española Valley Chamber of Commerce. Then in 1979, she became the first woman president of the Española Chamber of Commerce after serving on its board for a number of years. In 1998, while living in Santa Fe, Isabel and Dr. Sam were honored as “Living Treasures” for their significant community service. Dr. Sam passed away in Española in July 2000. In her later years, Isabel was involved in the writing of a Memoir with the help of her son, Norman. It was published in 2011 under the title Rio Grande Sand in Your Shoes (Sunstone Press, Santa Fe, NM). It is a memorable story of the Ziegler family and their involvement with the community of Española for more than fifty years. Isabel remained vibrant and alert until the very last. A prodigious maker of lists of things to do, she kept not only herself busy, but all those around her, with one project or another. For Isabel there was never enough time to do or see all of the wonderful things the world offered. She always felt life was a challenging and worthwhile journey to be enjoyed to its fullest. In the past several years, Isabel enjoyed a special friendship with Jim McCullough of Alcalde. Isabel is survived by her two sons, Sam Jr.  and wife Sandra, and Norman and wife Judy, and her foster daughter, Olga Newsom and husband Hugh. Her daughter, Julia, and her husband Ken Langille, predeceased her in 2010. Isabel has eight grandchildren, Scott Ziegler and Shane Ziegler, Isabel Sanden and Samuel T. Ziegler, M.D., Lisa Day, Dustin Chavez and Duane Chavez, and Maria Newsom, and ten great-grandchildren. A memorial gathering is being planned for late spring. Family encourages donations to favorite charities in lieu of flowers.  Isabel’s family has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com

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