Donald Lincoln Ziegenfuss — “Ziggy” — was born July 10, 1930, in Berkeley and passed away on April 29, 2025 in Eureka.  

Ziggy graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in business.  In his early years, he served as a transit operator in the Bay Area, Army Reserves for 28 years, and retired from the State of California Public Utilities Commission after 32 years of service where he was active in SEIU union representation and advocacy.  He was a volunteer serving the Eureka community for many years at St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka Elks Lodge, Rotary Club of Eureka, Humboldt Masons Lodge, Arcata Masons Six Rivers Lodge, and Eureka’s Redwood Shrine Club and Livermore’s AAHMES Shriners organizations.  He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka and American Legion organization. His countless hours of benevolent service all the way into his 90’s benefited numerous individuals, including the Rotary’s weekly backpack for kids program.

He was predeceased by his wife Johnnie Ruth, his parents Wilfred and Edna, brother “Little Wilfred” George and sister Ellen Smith.  He is survived by his niece Shelly Smith and nephews Marty and Jeff Smith and their families and also by his three stepdaughters, Diane Dillard, Debra Launey, and Cynthia Coppage and their children: Matt, Ginna, Kyle, Lauren, and Shelby and their children.

Along with “Ruthie,” Ziggy’s favorite things to do were to cook and entertain and collect toys for donation to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. He loved to volunteer at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, help fill bags weekly at the backpack for kids events with his Rotary member friends and drive his 1968 Buick flag car and the mini car with his Shriners friends in local parades.

A very special thank you to staff with Visiting Angels, Timber Ridge at Eureka and Hospice of Humboldt for their daily support and loving care of Ziggy in his last year on earth. It is amazing what they do!

A community memorial service will be held at the Six Rivers Masonic Lodge on Monday, August 11th at 2 p.m., 251 Bayside Road, Arcata. A private burial was held in May at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery in Sacramento, California.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospice of Humboldt, Rotary Club of Eureka’s backpack for kids program, and Shriner’s Hospital for Children of Northern California (in Sacramento).

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