15 Jul Robert Ziesch
Posted at 19:11h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Robert Phillip Ziesch, 84, took his final breath on earth peacefully while sleeping in the early hours of July 14th at Edgewood in Mandan.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Pettibone, ND. The burial will follow at Petersville Cemetery, Pettibone, ND.
The visitation will be held Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Bismarck Funeral Home and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Pettibone, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Robert was born on the farm in Petersville township on December 31st, 1939. The date recalled by family as “the last day of the dirty thirties.” He was the son of Emma (Leapaldt) and August Ziesch. He was the 5th child of 7 and entered the world at a whopping 14 pounds.
Robert grew up on the homesteaded family farm north of Pettibone and attended rural Petersville School through 8th grade. After completing 8th grade, he desired to stay home and help work on the farm. Robert married Delores Martin in Driscoll, ND, on March 7th, 1965. They purchased Robert’s family farm in 1968, where they raised a family alongside their dairy cattle, beef cattle, and crops until retirement. They moved to the town of Pettibone in 1995, where they lived until June of 2023. That summer, Robert and Delores settled into Edgewood Assisted Living in Mandan.
Robert found happiness when he would tag along with the day-to-day farm work, whether it was operating equipment, running for parts, or watching from the road. He was always smiling when immersed in agriculture. When he found spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding horses. He appreciated driving the backroads, keeping tabs on the folks at Farmers Union, playing cards, enjoying a good cold beer with friends and family, and overseeing all aspects of the farm. His eyes would light up, especially when spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Over the years, Robert was active in the Pettibone community. He was the Chief of the Fire Department, served multiple roles in the church, was a member of the Lions, and joined the Senior Citizens. He devoted time to serving on the Petersville Township and Cemetery Board, Pettibone School Board, and Kidder County Farmers Union Board. He volunteered his time serving the community he called home.
Robert is survived by his wife, Delores, his bride of 59 years, his daughter Marshell (Terry Hesch), and son Robin (Shelly) Ziesch. He is also survived by four granddaughters: Bailie (Russell) Graner, Cassidy (Levi) Lyngaas, Morgan (Tanner) Jochim, and Macey (Cody) Miller, and four great-grandchildren: Natalie, Xavier, Hazel, and Dakotah. Additionally, he is survived by his brother-in-law Harry Schmidt, sister-in-law Karen Ziesch, along with many nieces and nephews.
Robert was greeted in heaven by his parents, Emma and August Ziesch, four sisters: Verla (Reinhold) Schmidt, Lois, Darlene (John) Giger, and Ardelle (Lawrence) Loose, and two brothers: Duane and Deltan. One great-grandson, Rowdy, preceded Robert in death. We know Robert smiled ear to ear when he held Rowdy in his arms. They will be watching and assessing the farming practices from above.
The family of Robert Ziesch would like to extend a thank you to the supportive community of Pettibone and the compassionate staff members of Mandan Edgewood.
