Herbert T. Kiehl

Herbert T. Kiehl, 88, of Van Wert, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, October 23, 2013.

He was born June 7, 1925, in Van Wert, the son of the late Theodore and Eleanora (Feldner) Kiehl. On June 7, 1948, he married Donna (Swartz) Kiehl, who survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Jill (Bill) Graves of Asheville, N.C.; two sons, Stan (Nancy) Kiehl of Mason and Jerry Kiehl of Van Wert; seven grandchildren, PFC Kerby Kiehl of Fort Carson, Colo., Krista (Bryan) Pierce of Rome, Ga., Dr. Nik (Kristi) Kiehl of Louisville, Ky., Nashea Kiehl of Boynton Beach, Fla., Blake (Tiffany) Springer of Charlotte, N.C., Dr. Brooks (Frederique) Graves of Dallas, Texas, and Brock (Sami Prentice) Graves of Asheville, N.C.; two stepgrandchildren, Chris (Amber) Perry of Wilmington, N.C., and Steven (Carrie) Perry of Matthews, N.C.; eight great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchild.

Two brothers, Gerald Kiehl and Le Roy Kiehl; a sister-in-law, Ireta Kiehl; and a sister who died in infancy, also preceded him in death.

Mr. Kiehl retired from Greif Brothers (Sonoco) in Van Wert after 40-plus years of service. He graduated from Wren High School in 1943. He was a World War II veteran serving in the United States Sixth Marine Tank Division and a member of American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert.

He was a member of Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert and a former member of Zion Union Church. He was active in church, serving as a Sunday School superintendent, church trustee, and janitor.

He loved sports, music and singing in the choir, and now he will join the heavenly choir!

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, October 27, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Revs. Steve Savage and Neil Hammons officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in rural Van Wert County, with graveside military rites performed by the combined honors units of Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both of Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, October 26, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center or Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert.

Online condolences may be left at www.alspachgearhart.com.