Christine “Cricket” Ziegler, 58, of Bayard, passed away December 8, 2023 at the Medical Center
of the Rockies in Loveland, CO surrounded by her family, who remained by her side every day
holding her hand. Arrangements are in the care of Dugan-Kramer Funeral Home & Crematory.
You may leave condolences and share memories at www.dugankramer.com. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations can be made to the family for designation at a later time.
Cricket was born on January 6, 1965 in Winnie, TX to Jacob Schmunk and Jeanette (Bertrand)
Schmunk. She was raised in Bayard, NE with her family and younger brother, Troy. She
graduated from Bayard High School in 1983.
In 1984, Cricket married Jeffrey Carpenter. They welcomed their daughter Ashlyn in 1985 in
Kinsley, KS and their son Mitchael in 1989 in Rockford, IL. In 1990, they amicably divorced after
settling in Sycamore, IL where they raised their two children. While working full-time and being a
single mom, Cricket earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Kishwaukee
College in Malta, IL.
Cricket married Herman Ziegler of DeKalb, IL in 2000 after they dated for several years. In 2011,
they moved to Cricket’s hometown of Bayard, NE to be closer to her mom and other family.
Most recently, Cricket worked at the United States Post Office in Bayard, where she enjoyed
serving and connecting with people in her community.
Cricket had a huge heart and delighted in helping others. She loved to be organized, keep busy,
try new baking recipes to share with others, and use her creativity for crafts and for designing
and decorating their home. Like her mom, Cricket had a gift and love of gardening. Her yard
was well-known in Bayard and admired for the abundance of beautiful flowers and landscape
design she created every year. Cricket also enjoyed traveling, photography, going on walks
around the family sandpit, playing with their dog Macey, and attending various events for fun.
Most of all, Cricket’s greatest joy came from spending time with her family, especially her
beloved granddaughter Evie.
Cricket is survived by her loving and loyal husband Herman, daughter Ashlyn, of Fort Collins,
CO, son Mitch, of Bayard, granddaughter Evie Patton, of Fort Collins, CO, brother Troy
(Candace) Schmunk, her nieces and nephews Jessica (Zach) Nesbitt, Melanie (Kevin) Dalbey,
Nicole (Tyson) Schledewitz, Tyson (Anna) Schmunk, all of Bayard, and her great-nieces and
nephews Leah, Lexi, Layni and Lindy Nesbitt, Mason and Paxton Dalbey, Natalie Schmunk, and
Archer Schledewitz. She is also survived by her aunts Jane (Jimmy) Crain of Nome, TX, Mary
(Jim) Looney, Pat (Don) Mimms, both of CO, and many cousins whom she also loved dearly.
She is preceded in death by and reunited with her mom Jeanette, her dad Jake, grandparents,
in-laws, cousins Dawn, Tara, and Michael, and other extended family.
Christine “Cricket” Ziegler, 58, Bayard
