Alexander Ziegler

Alexander Christopher Ziegler, 33, of Linwood, KS, died at home unexpectedly on the afternoon of December 29, 2023. He was born to Andrew and Kim Ziegler on February 13, 1990 and grew up on the family acreage near Linwood. Alex was baptized on the first Earth Day on April 30, 1990 and confirmed on May 16, 2004 at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bonner Springs, KS. "Feed my sheep." John 21:17 was his confirmation verse.
Alex graduated in 2008 from Basehor-Linwood High School as a Valedictorian and Governor's Scholar recipient. In high school, he lettered in basketball, soccer, track and band. After high school Alex moved to Lawrence, Kansas where he attended University of Kansas on an engineering scholarship. After switching majors a few times, Alex relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado in fall of 2017. He worked as a head bartender at Austin's in Fort Collins to interact with people and discuss many different subjects, especially sports. He continued working throughout the pandemic and managed the curbside delivery. His life-long quest was to visit "parks" including all the national parks (more than 35 completed), state parks and MLB parks. His top favorites were Canyonlands and Olympic. He did these trips with his long-time friend/roommate Chris and additional close friends and family. Alex recently moved back home to determine his next path and it was wonderful to see him everyday.
Alex's first word was "ball" and he ran everywhere. He loved any sport with a ball and was an avid Royals, Chiefs, and KU sports fan. His involvement in sports from t-ball, baseball, soccer, and basketball resulted in life-long friendships for Alex and our family. He combined those sport and people interactions through fantasy football competition with friends and family. He loved golfing, camping, hiking, rafting, and exploring the great outdoors.
He didn't place a priority on material things, but prioritized quality interactions with people and animals and embracing nature. Alex was a good, kind, giving person and loved animals. He was always in the company of a cat, a dog, the sheep, a cow, a pig or chickens, any critter that was nearby. His intellect was evident at an early age when he would have chicken school and run some of the hens through a barrage of tests and then teach them tricks.
Alex's passing creates a void in all of our lives that can't be filled completely. Sharing stories of his life between family and friends and knowing that he is in heaven to greet us is comforting. Through interactions with many of you, we appreciate the love you all had for him and that he continually demonstrated his true purpose in life was to promote kindness. Alex always provided a brief embrace when leaving someone's company. We miss those embraces. "Tomorrow is not promised" (Proverbs 27:1). We hope to emulate Alex's example of kindness.
Alex is survived by his parents, Andrew and Kim, Brother Gary (Michelle) and niece Kyra, Aunts and Uncles Vicki (Tim), Mark (Gail) and cousins Justin, Shannon, Scott, Brenden, and Griffin and his many friends.
Visitation will be from 5 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 at Alden-Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs, KS. There will also be a visitation from 10-11am prior to the Funeral Service at the Church.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11th, at the Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 14700 Leavenworth Rd, Basehor KS with burial to follow at Glenwood Cemetery.
Tributes, reflections and sharing of stories about Alex may be placed at http://www.aldenharrington.com/. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Operation Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation in Kansas | Operation Wildlife (owl-online.org).