Mr. Antonio Ziegler Sr.

Antonio Ziegler Sr., 61, of Southfield, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with stage 4 stomach cancer. Antonio was born on January 27, 1963, to Randolph and Shirley Ziegler in Detroit, Michigan. Raised alongside his three brothers—Ricardo, Randolph Jr., and Robert—he developed a deep passion for sports, particularly football and basketball, from an early age. Determined to pursue his love for the game, Antonio would ride the city buses to and from practices and games, dedicating countless hours to perfecting his skills. He shared a special bond with his father over their love of chess, a game they enjoyed playing together often. Antonio looked up to Muhammad Ali, admiring his character and the principles he stood for. In high school, he played varsity football and basketball for the Southfield Blue Jays, furthering his athletic journey. Antonio graduated from Southfield High School in 1981 and went on to study Business Administration at Western Michigan University. After working various jobs in retail, sales, and purchasing he went on to get his Master of Business Administration at the University of Phoenix. Antonio learned from his mother to take pride in his education and to always be learning. He passed this love of learning to his children who became engineers. He was always a student and during the pandemic, he would begin to teach himself coding and Spanish. Antonio would also self-study the bible daily after reclaiming his faith through baptism in 2016 at Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. Antonio was a loving and supportive man who cared deeply for his family, friends, and community. He spent many years coaching youth basketball and teaching the values of teamwork, work ethic, and friendship through the sport. While living in Oak Park, Michigan he frequently hosted barbeque cookouts and brought close friends and family together. When with his family he loved family game nights and the games did not end until he won, especially when playing the game “Boggle”. Being proud of his family name, Antonio took the time to research his family tree, uncovering connections to relatives he had never known. This journey of discovery not only deepened his appreciation for his roots but also led him to reconnect with family members he hadn't been aware of before. Throughout his lifetime he was a father and mentor to many including Latrelle Bandstra, Deshawna Ladd, Faziah Meier, Alexandria Ziegler, and Runako Ziegler. Antonio was predeceased by his father Randolph Ziegler; his brother Ricardo Ziegler; and his nephew Ramir Ziegler. He is survived by his mother Shirley Ziegler; his children Antonio Ziegler Jr. and Arya Ziegler; his brothers Randolph Ziegler Jr and Robert Ziegler, and his former spouse Andrea Ziegler. Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, at O. H. Pye, III Funeral Home. The funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, at O. H. Pye, III Funeral Home. Following the funeral, Antonio will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. Following the burial, there will be a Repass from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at BLVD, located at 28595 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034.

Mr. Antonio Ziegler Sr.

January 27, 1963 - January 23, 2025