Zieser, Clarence 'Buzz' D.

Clarence “Buzz” D. Zieser, 82, of 1716 D Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Center Point, died Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Services: 2 p.m. Monday, July 30, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point. The family will greet friends before the service from noon to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial: Center Point Cemetery, Center Point.

Survivors include his daughter, Christine Zieser of Woodridge, Ill.; stepdaughters, Sheryl Goering of Ottumwa and Kathy Crist of Stanwood; grandchildren, Darnell Blakeney, Mike Crist, Coby Crist, Kiley Sue Crist, Lexus Crist, DaVonte Crist, Stacy Edwards, Joshua Crist and Kayla Crist; five great-grandchildren; brother, Stanley Zieser; and several nieces and nephews.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; his former wife, Jeanne Reinheimer; daughter, Susan Zieser Perkins; sister, Yvonne Zieser; and brother, “Bud” Marshall Zieser.

Born Aug. 21, 1929, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, Clarence was the son of Clarence and Nora (Thompson) Zieser. Clarence was a professional major league baseball player from 1947 until 1956 and pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1952 and 1953. He was honored in the Baseball Almanac as one of the very best minor league baseball pitchers that has ever lived. He later was an insurance agent for Prudential Insurance.

Clarence was a member of the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America, the Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame and the Iowa High School Baseball Association. His joys were attending baseball games and fishing.

The family wishes to thank Linda Stavropoulos and All Saints Parish for all their prayers and support.

A memorial fund has been established in Clarence's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Clarence at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published July 29, 2012 in The Gazette