Kenneth Duane Viele, 94, of Lebanon, died Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Springfield.
He was born Sept. 17, 1926, in Okmulgee, Okla. to Bliss Eugene and Iva Letitia Fitch Viele.
On Jan. 28, 1951, he married Willa Faye Davis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Duane Eugene Viele, who died Oct. 19, 2016, and by three brothers and one sister.
Kenneth graduated from Lebanon High School in 1944. He attended Missouri University where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology. After he and Willa Faye were married, he worked for the Naval Civil Service for two years. He was a dairy farmer selling grade ‘A’ milk, and also working at Lebanon Dairy Plant. In 1966, he became employed with Detroit Tool as a purchasing agent, retiring in 1991. He farmed beef cattle until 1995.
He was a member of First Christian Church.
Survivors include his wife Willa Faye Viele; one son, Brian Viele and his wife Liz of Strafford; three daughters, Vivian Hyde and her husband Mike of Trenton, Maine; Jean Ellen Tapp and her husband Terry of Lebanon; and Janice Davis and her husband Greg of O’Fallon, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; other relatives and many dear friends.
A memorial service for Kenneth Duane Viele will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2021, at First Christian Church with the Rev. Greg Turner and the Rev. Jill Carr officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Mount Rose Memorial Park, under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon. The family will receive friends at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in the Narthex of the First Christian Church prior to services at 2 p.m. To share online condolences and sign the guestbook please visit shadelscolonialchapel.com. Memorials in memory of Kenneth have been suggested to First Christian Church of Lebanon or to Alzheimer’s Association, and donations can be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948, Lebanon, Mo. 65536.
