Carolyn Ziegler

Carolyn Ziegler, 84, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at New Beginnings Full Gospel Church in Des Moines. Her Homegoing Celebration will immediately follow and begin at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery.

Carolyn Don Thomas born on April 25, 1940 in Covington, KY to a Native American mother Clara Belle Thomas and an African American father Roger Peeks.

Carolyn Don Thomas was the first African American baby born at William Booth Memorial Hospital in Convington, KY. Carolyn was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio by her grandmother Annie Peeks, who passed away when Caroyln was eight years old. She then went to live with her mother until her mother passed away. Carolyn attended Woodward High School in Cincinnati, OH.

Later in life she married Warnell Ziegler Sr. She went on to have eight children. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she was a dental assistant for Dr. James. She then worked security for the phone company for many years before she began her career with the Des Moines Police Department “Traffic Section” parking enforcement. After 19 years of service, she retired from there.

On January 26th, Carolyn gained her wings. She is preceded in death by her parents mother Clara Belle Thomas and her father Roger Peeks. She is survived by her children; Anthony Peeks, Warnell (Angela) Ziegler, Gwendolyn Crawford, Donna Weber, Dwayne Ziegler, Alisa Sykes, Jeffrey (Patrice) Ziegler and Kimberly (Rodney) Ziegler-White. Siblings; Theodore Peeks, Thomas (Stephanie) Peeks, Dr. Roger (Judy) Peeks, and Richard (Marsha) Peeks. A host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and her first cousin Pastor James A Salter.