Helga Ziegler Daniels

Helga Ziegler Daniels, 98, of Frederick, Maryland, passed away peacefully on 26 December 2023 surrounded by her family and friends. She was born in Hainzell, Germany on 5 December 1925 to Anna Siebald Ziegler and Alfred Ziegler, Sr. She was the wife of the late Colonel William F. Daniels, Sr., PhD.

Helga grew up in Schlüchtern (Slü), Germany, enjoyed reading, swimming, hiking, and playing handball on a local team. She graduated from Das Institut Sanctae Maria der Englischen Fraeulein, a business school in Fulda, Germany. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper in her parent’s creamery, Immergut.

During WWII, Helga was drafted to Hamburg and served as a telephone operator. Towards the end of the war, she met her future husband, William (Bill) F. Daniels who was an observation pilot for the 2nd Armored Division. Bill returned often to Slü as the war ended, landing his plane on the local soccer field, to see Helga and ultimately propose to her after receiving approval from Helga’s parents. Helga and Bill were engaged on Christmas Eve of 1946 and Helga came to Miami in November 1947. She was welcomed there by her fiancé and in-laws, Cecil Earl Daniels, Sr., and Mildred Clapp Daniels, and she and Bill were married in 1947 using the fireplace mantel of her in-law’s home as an altar. Her first year of American life with her new family brought many new experiences, learning how to fish and crab. She completed her first solo car drive to pick up more crabbing supplies for her father-in-law.

Helga and Bill relocated to Gainesville where Bill obtained his master’s degree from the University of Florida and welcomed the birth of their son, William, Jr. Thereafter, Bill earned his PhD from the University of Kentucky, where they welcomed another son, Eric. Following a move to Cincinnati, Helga achieved her natural citizenship and was elected to deliver the commencement address. Finally, another relocation brought the couple to Frederick where the couple welcomed their third child, Heidi.

Helga and family enjoyed trips to Germany to visit her family and in 1961, the family resided in Stockholm, Sweden where Bill assisted with research at Upsala University. The family returned to the US and divided their time between Frederick and New Bern, NC, and the couple eventually semi-retired in Fairfield Harbour. Helga traveled extensively including trips to Denmark, Finland, Austria, Liechtenstein, France, Russia, Mexico, Alaska, Greece, and Central America.

She and Bill served in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and loved sailing their boat on Chesapeake Bay and the Neuse River. She remained an avid swimmer and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and needle point. She also translated German writing into English for friends and acquaintances and continued her love for reading and often had her nose in a book. Helga enjoyed her family most and especially loved sharing time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Embracing her great-grandchildren was one of her most treasured lifetime experiences.

Helga was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, and St. Andrew Church of New Bern. She remained a member of the WWII War Brides Association, the Coast Guard Auxiliary of Frederick and New Bern, NC, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Helga was preceded in death by her husband William F. Daniels, Sr.; parents, Alfred and Anna Ziegler, Cecil and Mildred Daniels; brothers, Herbert and Erich Ziegler, Cecil Earl Daniels Jr., Steven A. Daniels, Edwin Daniels; sister Ingrid Ziegler (Martin), sister-in-law Hildemarie Ziegler; son William F. Daniels, Jr.; nephews Alfred Ziegler and Stephen Daniels Jr., and niece Doris Moeller.

She is survived by her son Eric Daniels (Sarah) of Frederick; her daughter Heidi (Fernando) Rivera; sister Marlott Hederich; brother-in-law Ed Martin; sister-in-laws Rebecca Plemons Daniels, Catherine Daniels, Claranne Daniels; five grandchildren, Rebecca Ann Daniels, Robert (Abbie) Daniels, Hollis L’Estrange Daniels, Elise Rivera, and Adrienne Rivera (Darren Thomas); many nieces and nephews, and great grandchildren.

Over the last year at HeartFields Assisted Living of Frederick, Helga enjoyed playing games with fellow residents. Helga and family are especially thankful to the HeartFields staff for their excellent care and loving assistance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Frederick, Maryland or St. Andrew Lutheran Church of New Bern, North Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 10am to 11am, on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701.  The funeral service will follow at 11am at the funeral home.

The family will receive friends from 12pm to 1:45pm, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at the Jones Funeral Home, 303 Chaney Avenue, Jacksonville, NC 28540.  The funeral service will follow at 2pm, at Camp Lejeune Memorial Gardens Veterans Cemetery, 109 Montford Landing Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28540.