Idaho Falls, Idaho
1939 - 2016
Ronald Paul Ziel, 77, a resident under the care of the Good Samaritan Society in Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, December 15, 2016 from natural causes.
Ron was born on July 17, 1939 in the heart of New York City at Wickersham Hospital in Manhattan. He is the son of Roland and Edith Kegel Ziel.
Much of his youth was in New York City (Bronx and Queens). When he was ten years old in 1949, his parents and younger brother moved out to the quaint village of Melville located in suburban Long Island.
After graduation from Huntington High School in 1957, Ron attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Art in 1961. While at Pratt Institute, he enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) where, upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. His career in the signal corps was short lived since he contracted diabetes. He received an honorable medical discharge.
Aside from his family and close friends, Ron's love and passion were steam engines and railroads. He traveled around the world photographing passenger and freight trains in several countries and in every continent except Antarctica. His collection of black, white and color photos is second to none where Ron has amassed over 30,000 historical railroad photographs during his 35-year career. Ron wrote and published several successful books on trains with emphasis on steam powered railroads. A few of his books were so popular that they were even translated in German and sold throughout Europe.
Ron also had a passion for politics. He was patriotic citizen and wherever he lived in later years (eastern Long Island and Tucson, Ariz.), he was active in supporting candidates for public office of his choice.
Ron is survived by his brother, Robert (Bob) Ziel (Ginger) and his three nephews, Paul (Jessica) Aaron (Lesley) and Brian (Amanda).
Ron is a Presbyterian by faith.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday evening, December 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the chapel of Eckersell Funeral Home located at Main and State Streets in Rigby. Pastor David Bass of the New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church will conduct the religious service followed by eulogies from his friends.
Ron's family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Idaho Falls who took very good care and comforted him in the final years of his life.
Ron Ziel and my older brother Brad Miller were good friends. They both had a passion - Steam Railroading. I never met Ron Ziel, but I heard enough about him and looked at many of his photos and books to think I did know Ron. Blessings to Ron's family.
Bob Miller
December 11, 2022
I remember Brad and Ron working together on recordings of the Twilight of Steam and many other projects including photos for album covers and liner notes. They went on several steam trips together recording for Mobile Fidelity Productions. My Mom June, also worked with Ron. What a jewel of a person Ron was. And now he is photographing and writing books about Heavens railroads. God Bless, Bob Miller (Brads younger brother who loves trains)
Bob (brother of Brad Miller)
April 04, 2022 | Other
I never met Mr. Ziel but he had a huge influence in my life. My mom and dad bought my older brother "The Twilight of Steam" in the mid 60's, I was about 3 years old. It was my brother's favorite book and soon became mine too. I would look at it for hours and hours, relishing the times when I came to the color photos in the book. I had to wonder what was in the first twenty pages or so as my brother had ripped them out. As soon as I discovered eBay I obtained another copy of...
Edward Cafarella
June 08, 2017 | Bellport, NY | Acquaintance
Today I discovered the death of Ron. He and his family were part of my family. Ron was wonderful and took us to see some of the trains that he wrote about. His love for trains helped me also love and appreciate trains. I remember Ron from years ago but after I moved around I lost contact with him. So today when I searched from him I am deeply saddened to learn that he has died. Ron has left a legacy behind him through his photography and books that he wrote. I am so sorry for his...
April 12, 2017
I First Met Ron At A Railroad Lecture At The Plainview Public Library In The Early 1970's. He Was Talking About His Books & Travels All Over The World. This Is Where I Purchased My 1st Ron Ziel Book Called "Steel Rails To The Sunrise". After That I Met Up With Ron Many Times To Purchase His Other Books And To talk Railroading.. We Hit It Off Right Away.. I Did Work For The Long Island Railroad At This Time.. We Talked Many Times On The Phone Even After He Moved To Arizona. We Lost Touch After...
Arthur F Sintef II
April 02, 2017 | East Moriches, Long Island, NY | Friend
I met Ronald Ziel together with Nils Huxtable on a trip in Finnland in Mai 2003. I remeber Ron as a very sympathic nice railway photographer.
I feel very sad about this news.
Oliver Wunder / Hildesheim
Oliver Wunder
December 30, 2016 | Hildesheim / Germany
Ron loved sharing his knowledge of Long Island Rail Road history with everyone. He was quite personable and always was "up front" with his praises and criticisms. Ron will surely be missed by the railfan community on Long Island,
David Morrison Morrison
December 21, 2016 | Plainview, NY
Like many are saying, Twilight of the Steam Locomotive was also my first rail book and and helped inspire me to a career in the railroad book field. And Steel Rails to Victory was a masterpiece on the subject. I'm sorry we never met Ron, but you will be long remembered for your impact. God bless you on your new journey.
Jim Reisdorff
December 20, 2016 | David City, NE
West Virginia
RIP Ron I will miss you. I will always remember our trips to take photos and the time we spent in Southampton. Our trip to West Virginia in the 1980s was the best.
Rudolph Schubert
December 20, 2016 | Long Beach, NY
