Frank Paul Zeidler (1912-2006) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest son of
Michael and Clara Zeidler, née Nitschke. Clara (1880-1950) and Michael (1878-1970),
who worked as a barber, also had three other children: Clemens (1911-1980), who was
the president of Northwestern Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, Dorothy
Boeck (1916-1998), and Carl (1908-1942), who was also mayor of Milwaukee from
1940-1942. Frank married Agnes Reinke (1919-2009) in 1939 and they had six children
together: Clara, Dorothy, Michael, Anita, Mary, and Jeanne.
Frank graduated from West Division High School in 1929 and received an honorary
doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1958. He worked as a surveyor and
topographical engineer from 1931-1943. Frank also served from 1938-1940 as County
Surveyor. From 1943-1948 he was a surveyor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and
Pacific Railroad. Frank was elected to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in
1941 until 1948 when he was elected mayor of Milwaukee, a position he held until
1960. He later ran for president on the Socialist Party ticket in 1976.
