Olen Eugene Griffel, 95, formerly of Higginsville and Excelsior Springs, died July 16, 2021 at the Golden Age Nursing Home in Braymer, MO.
Olen Eugene Griffel was born September 30, 1925 at Alma, MO to Alfred and Leona (Moore) Griffel.
He was drafted into U.S. Army, 66th Infantry Division during his senior year of High School. He received his High School Diploma while on furlough. He left on December 2, 1943 for boot camp, then sent to Normandy, France December 23rd 1944 and was wounded by German machine gun fire on April 10, 1945 in France. He received the Purple Heart and his Certificate of Disability for Discharge on November 19, 1945 from the Army Hospital Center, Camp Carson, Colorado.
He was baptized and confirmed on November 21, 1948 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kansas City, MO by Rev. T.A. Weinhold.
He married Marcelaine Ruth Kempfe daughter of Edwin & Hilda Kempfe on June 19, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Alma, MO and started their lives together in Independence, MO area, where they lived for nearly 18 years.
Gene started out working for the railroad, first on the loading docks and later as a payroll clerk. He moved to Kaw Transportation, in the mid 1960’s, as a clerk, but became interested in computers. After some training and certification he became the IT manager for Kaw. He stayed with them until he retired in 1987. As retirement approached, they moved to Excelsior Springs, living there for about 15 years before moving to Higginsville in June of 1995. They moved to Braymer in 2016. During his retirement he worked for the various churches where they lived.
He is preceded in death by his wife Marcelaine; his parents; daughter Gayle Groff; 3 sisters, Waneta Franklin, Alice Miller, and Marie Gassen; and 3 great-grandchildren.
He is survived by:
Daughters: Cheryl Schwindt (Thomas) of Lee's Summit, MO
Cynthia Griffel of Kidder, MO
Sister: Beverly Mackie (Bill) of Higginsville, MO
Brother: Harold Gene Griffel (Ruth) of Higginsville, MO
Son in Law: Thomas Groff of Grain Valley, MO
5 Grandchildren: Andrew Hurley (Stefanie), Michael Hurley (Amy), Tanya Beckham (Paul), Sean Groff (Jessica), and Jason Groff
11 Great Grandchildren, 3 Step-Grandchildren
Funeral Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in Higginsville, on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 10:30 am, officiated by Pastor Kurt Brandon.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral.
Casket Bearers will be Jason Groff, Sean Groff, Tommy Groff, Mike Hurley, Andrew Hurley, Kevin Griffel.
He will be buried in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be to Immanuel Lutheran Church Handicap Fund.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.kaiserwiegersfuneralhome.com
Kaiser-Wiegers Funeral Home
