Legendary Coach Lowell “Zeke” Ziemann has passed away at age 85. The Fairmont farm boy grew up to become a standout pitcher and star basketball player in high school and continued his athletic prowess in both sports at Augsburg College.

Zeke was inducted by both Fairmont and Augsburg into their Halls of Fame. Zeke was inducted into the Hall of Honor in Marshall for his longtime success as the Tigers’ boys basketball coach. We — his 1970 basketball team — were fortunate to have him teach us the game that he loved so much. In doing so, he influenced the rest of our lives. After high school, most of us continued calling him “Coach.” With a grateful smile, he said his heart just melted every time he heard us call him “Coach.”

Coach’s first season in Marshall was 1965. He retired 12 years later as the winningest coach in school history with a 180- 84 record. His teams won seven district championships and made two trips to the Minnesota State Tournament in 1970 and 1974.

Minnesota’s State Basketball Tournament was a single-class format through 1970. Over 400 schools competed for one of the 8 coveted spots in the wildly popular hoops extravaganza held in March in Minneapolis at “The Barn” (Williams Arena). In the history of Minnesota’s single-class state tournaments, Coach is one of the very few guys who both played in it (1955 for Fairmont) AND coached in it.

Coach guided our 1970 team to realize our childhood dreams of “going to State” during the single-class era. We lost in the state semi-finals to eventual state champion Sherburn, but playing in that state tournament was a mountaintop experience for us and for Coach.

He emphasized team ball with maximum effort, especially in playing his tenacious man-to-man defense. He stressed thinking on the court. He molded us into a cohesive unit willing to do anything for the good of the team. We won as a team. We lost as a team. Team first. Always.

We were always a close team. After the State Tournament, the pinnacle of our comradery happened 43 years later when Coach was inducted into Marshall’s Hall of Honor. At his induction, the Marshall Independent wrote:

Of the numerous letters in support of Ziemann’s candidacy for the Hall of Honor a recurring message is how Ziemann was able to foster and promote the skills that his players would need to be successful off the court. His impact on their lives was evident as 14 members from the 1970 team journeyed thousands of miles to support their coach.

… What really stood out to Ziemann was how, after so many years, his players were still willing to selflessly share with one another. In 1970 it was the ball or playing time that was shared, in 2013 it was memories and one-on-one time with coach.

In the end, the members of the 1970 team returned to honor their coach not for the wins or losses, but rather to relive the communal dream which he helped them achieve.

Our 1970 team has gathered many times in Minnesota since 2013, and Coach often attended despite living in Arizona. We journeyed to Phoenix twice to see him. In those reunions, our high school friendships grew stronger as did our deep respect for each other. We also glimpsed other sides of Coach. He was much more than a basketball coach: an author of Western short stories, a woodcarver, and an Old West historian. He especially loved watching Arizona Diamondback games with his beloved dog Duke at his side. He lived a full life.

Coach, we can picture you in heaven, once again breaking off curve balls and swishing jump shots. And maybe even coaching a few youngsters like us! It was an honor and a privilege to play for you and to know you as a man and as a caring friend. Thanks, from the bottom of our hearts. -YOUR 1970 MARSHALL TIGERS