Harrison Ziegler IV

A life lived in Full!!!

Harrison (Zig) Ziegler IV, 81, of Grand Junction, Colorado, died February 21st 2026, at the Grand Junction Veteran Administration Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Zig was born on January 31, 1945, to Dorothea and Harrison Ziegler III in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and did not have any siblings.

Zig was a proud alumnus of William Penn High School graduating in 1963. Zig attended Elizabeth Town College for two years. In 1965 Zig enlisted in the United State Navy, where he served honorably until 1969 as a Petty Officer (PN3). While serving in the Navy Zig was in country for the Vietnam War.

Zig was an electrical draftsman for an engineering firm following his naval service. As fate often does, a young lady, Rose Ferree, a student studying to be a Radiology Technician, happened to attend Zig’s 26th birthday party in 1970. Sometime later when Zig was doing work at a mutual friend’s house, Rose needed a ride home to her parents and her date did not want to take her. Ever the gentleman, lucky Zig did take her home. Zig married Rose Ferree on November 16, 1974. 2025 marked their 51st wedding anniversary.

Zig became an electrical inspector for a few years while still living in Pennsylvania, his landlord owned a sawmill, and zig did electrical work for him. Rose and Zig learned to ski during this period, being they lived about a mile from Ski Roundtop. In 1976 the young couple moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, where Zig attended Spartan School of Aeronautics and Rose worked at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa as an X-Ray Technician. Following trade school Zig started working in 1977 for the airline manufacturer McDonald Douglas; they also bought their first home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

February 4th, 1979, their stubborn first daughter Christina (Zig’s mini me) was born at St Francis Hospital. Zig and Rose built their own house in Manford, Oklahoma over the next few years. Rose remembers being 7th months pregnant with their second child hammering nails into the floor while Zig worked on the house too. Sharon was born March 27th, 1981, a constantly in motion child from the start, a mini tornado. From toddlers to adults both daughters were named “Squirt” as far as Zig was concerned, they were also his assistant Chiropractors walking on his back.

Zig went into business for himself in 1982, a Master Electrician; he had a beloved ugly olive-green van with a caricature “Wild Wiggy” painted on the side. Zig also subcontracted with HillCo another electrical contractor. Along with HillCo they built Nursing Homes throughout the Midwest. Working with HillCo is what brought Zig and Rose to Grand Junction in 1994.

Zig worked for various companies in GJ, and then opened Ziegler Electric, where Christina started apprenticing for her Journeyman Electrician license. Sharon did not enjoy electrical work but did help with the administration of the business. Rose worked in the medical and administrative fields during this time. Zig used to be a Monkey of a Man crawling through attics and tight places, being used to having to pretzel himself to do his work. Zig passed on to his daughter, Christina, how to walk ladders around so as not to have to climb up and down, this is a frowned upon practice by OSHA, but much faster.

Zig and Rose sold the company in 2003 and followed their friends Karon and Bruce to Florida. After a few years, surviving two hurricanes, the crazy bugs and humid weather Zig took up a final job with HillCo for one more nursing home in Bullhead City, Arizona. Following completion of that job Rose and Zig traveled around the west in a RV, Zig working as a contractor here and there. While in Gillette, Wyoming Rose decided she was done with the RV lifestyle after one morning she woke up with snow in the living room that had blown in through a leaking seal. They moved and lived in Farmington, NM for a few years, and then moved into a house in Eaton, Colorado in 2009. Eventually Zig and Rose moved back to Grand Junction when their grandson Dimitry was born in 2012, and Zig and Rose both ended up working for Atlasta Solar.

Zig had Harley Davidson Motorcycle he loved to ride in late 90’s through the early 2000’s. Rose and Zig also took up golfing in the late 90’s trying to be like Tiger Woods. Zig liked woodworking, and made furniture occasionally. He made a hutch for Rose in their 30’s that she adored. He sure had fun.

Zig is survived by his loving wife Rose, and his two daughters Christina Ziegler-Orient, and Sharon Chambers. He leaves behind two wonderful grandchildren, Dimitry and Elsie.

There will be a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on May 8th at 10:00 AM.

The family would request that any memorials or donations be made to any veterans charity or the DMVA Veterans Cemetery Fund, if you would like to do so.