Funeral services for Martin T. "Tom" Ziegler, 62, of Lower Brule, SD will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD with burial in the Messiah Episcopal Cemetery at Iron Nation, SD.  Wake services will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Lower Brule Community Center in Lower Brule, SD.

Anyone wishing to follow, the procession will leave the funeral home on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

Martin Thomas "Tom" Ziegler, Waŋblí Lúza (Swift Eagle), of Lower Brule, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas, at the age of 62. Born on April 17, 1964, in Chamberlain, South Dakota, to William "Bill" Ziegler Sr. and Roberta "Birdie" Thomas, Tom was deeply rooted in Lakota culture and traditions throughout his life.

Tom was a devoted father, horseman, dancer, singer, and cultural teacher who shared Lakota traditions through powwow dancing, healing songs, horsemanship, and cultural camps. He traveled extensively with his family on the powwow circuit as part of the dance group Čhaŋté Makȟá ("Heart of the Earth") and also performed with Brulé. His love for horses defined much of his life, and he earned a Horse-Shoeing Blacksmith Certificate in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Known for his generosity, hardworking spirit, and western cowboy style, Tom was loved by family and friends in both South Dakota and Kansas. In Topeka, Kansas, he shared his later years with his significant other and loving companion, Tina Winkler, and was supported by a close circle of friends, including his best friend Jackie Collier. Tom is remembered for his dedication to preserving Lakota heritage and for always supporting those around him.

Tom is survived by his children, siblings, extended family and many loved ones who will forever cherish his memory. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Kiyukan-Ziegler, his parents and grandparents, brothers Mike and Elmer Ziegler, and many other loved ones. His legacy of cultural pride, kindness, and love continues through all those whose lives he touched.