Merlin Zeigler

Merlin passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the age of 85.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Gilbert Lutheran Church in Gilbert. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the church. Merlin will be laid to rest during a private service at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery with military honors.

Merlin Kay Zeigler was born April 24, 1940, in Belmond, IA. He and his twin sister Mardell were the fifth and sixth of eight born to Elmer and Arlene (Severson) Zeigler. Merlin was raised in the rural parts of Northern Iowa, and he spent much of his youth with his brothers and working alongside his dad at the local DX station. Merlin graduated from Kanawha High School in 1958.

Merlin was drafted into the United States Army in 1963, attaining the rank of E-5 before being honorably discharged in 1965. Merlin was very proud of his military service in Germany. After returning to Iowa, he attended barber school, settled back in Kanawha, and barbering at the local shop, which he later purchased and operated as the Zeigler Barber Shop in Kanawha and later, in Britt, IA. Merlin oversaw the Kanawha Community School District maintenance department until his retirement in 2006.

Merlin married Marilyn Jeanne Olson on December 30, 1989, settling just outside of Kanawha where they raised and drove Belgian horses and bred golden retrievers. Merlin’s four children Tim, Karin, Jon and Ben became Merlin and Marilyn’s greatest joy celebrating the addition of each spouse, grandchild, and great-grandchild to the family.

Following their retirement, the couple relocated to Gilbert, IA, following three of his four children to the Central Iowa area. Above all else, Merlin cherished time spent with Marilyn, his children, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Merlin will be deeply missed by his wife, Marilyn Zeigler; children, Tim (Lisa) Zeigler, Karin (Dallas) Gregor, Jon (Shayla) Zeigler and Ben (Jen) Zeigler; grandchildren, Zachary (Greta) Zeigler, Kaitlyn (Blake) Berry, Luke Gregor, Vivienne Gregor, Adi Zeigler, Isaiah Zeigler, Kylie Zeigler, and Sydney Zeigler; great-grandchildren, Aida Grace Berry, and Benson Berry; and siblings, Hazel Wood, Mardell Meyer, David Zeigler, and Joan (Charles) Boeck. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mary Zeigler, Joyce Zeigler, Dawn Zeigler, John (Ellen) Olson, and Alberto Robles.

Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Arlene Zeigler; siblings, Wayne Zeigler, Jim Zeigler, and Lyle Zeigler; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gene Wood, Gary Meyer, Margaret Zeigler, and Marsha Robles.