John H. Ziel, age 58, a resident for the past 55 years of the Santa Rosa Beach community of Walton County, passed away Thursday morning, January 7, 1971, in a Ft. Walton Beach hospital. Mr. Ziel was native of Virginia, Minnesota. He was a member of the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church, and was a charter member of the South Walton Lions Club. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Ziel had operated Ziel’s Grocery in Santa Rosa Beach. He was a member of Herman Lodge #108, F&AM, in Freeport.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Winnfred Ziel, of Santa Rosa Beach; two daughters, Miss Shirley Ann Ziel, of Riviera Beach, Florida, and Mrs. Winona A. Sanchez of Key West; one brother, Edward T. Ziel, of Pensacola; one sister, Mrs. Inez Bennett, of South Bend, Ind.; three grandchildren, and other relatives.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon, January 9, 1971, at 2 o’clock from the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church, with the Rev. Thorwald Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the Santa Rosa Beach Cemetery.
[Source: The DeFuniak Springs Herald, January 14, 1971, Page 4]
[Burial: Gulf Cemetery, Santa Rosa Beach]