James Lee “Ziggy” Zeigler, age 78, of Fredericktown and the Bellville community, passed away Monday evening, May 4, 2026, at his home following a courageous year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born July 24, 1947, he was the son of the late Richard and Ruth (Hagaman) Zeigler.Following in his father’s footsteps, he grew up in the family garage on Bell Street in Bellville, learning the trade hands-on and developing a lifelong passion for working on anything with an engine. From mowers and tractors to cars, trucks, and motorcycles, there wasn’t much he couldn’t fix.
After his father’s passing in 1975, Ziggy proudly carried on the family legacy, owning and operating Zeigler’s Garage for many years, serving generations of loyal customers throughout the community.
On October 31, 1985, he married Jill Tharp, and together they built a life centered on family, hard work, and shared values. They were blessed with a son, Justin, whom Ziggy took great pride in teaching.
Ziggy’s passion extended beyond the garage to the racetrack, where he found great joy in motorcycle racing. His racing career and impact were thoughtfully captured in the following tribute written by Greg Pearson:
Jim Zeigler was a local racer who became an AMA Professional in the mid-1970s and raced at the top levels of the AMA Grand National Championship and Pro events throughout the country. In 1974, he was awarded National Number 89, joining an elite group of fewer than 100 racers in the entire country.
Over the course of his career, he earned more than 15 Expert Main Event victories, recorded over 30 top-five finishes, and competed in the main events at eight Grand National races.
Ziggy will be remembered as a man who could fix just about anything, but more importantly, as someone who was always willing to lend a hand, share his knowledge, and connect with others through his work and passions. His legacy lives on in the countless engines he brought back to life, the people he helped along the way, and the family he loved deeply.
He is survived by his loving wife Jill Zeigler of Fredericktown, son Justin and Latishia Zeigler of Lexington, brother Arthur and Linda Zeigler of Mansfield, brother-in-law Robert Tharp of Mt. Vernon, sister-in-law Susan and Thomas Butts of Mt. Vernon along with numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a brother David Zeigler .
The Bellville Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the Zeigler family with arrangements. A celebration of life will take place Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 2 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bellville, Ohio.
Messages of support may be shared by visiting:www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Funeral Home: Bellville Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com