Thomas W. “Yellowbird” Kiehl, age 75, of Knox, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday morning, March 11, 2017 at the Clarion Health Care Center, following a lengthy illness.

     Born July 10, 1941 in Shannondale, Clarion County, he was a son of the late Isaac Walter Kiehl and Josephine Bish Kiehl.

     He married the former Elva Katherine Beichner on March 11, 1971 and she preceded him in death on August 22, 2010.  He then married Shirley Ann Dittman on October 20, 2013 and she survives.

     Tom worked for C & K Coal Company as a heavy equipment operator.  He also worked for the Fred Deemer Coal Company and Bracken Construction.  After his retirement, he drove van for McLendon Transportation.

     He attended the Fellowship Baptist Church in Emlenton.

     Tom enjoyed the Men’s Breakfast fellowship, sharing the Lord and his strong faith, teaching Sunday school, hunting, attending horse and tractor pulls, car shows and music jams.

     He loved spending time with his family, telling stories and reminiscing.

     Survivors include his wife, Shirley; his children:  Debra Kahle and her husband, John; Bonda Reddinger and her husband, Larry and Jodi Welsh and her husband, Chris, all of Knox; George Hartzell and his wife, Brenda, of Shippenville and Velvet McKerahan and her husband, Tom, of Harmony; 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

     Tom is also survived by his brother, Richard Kiehl and his wife, Rita, of Cranberry; three step daughters:  Pat Marshal and Carol Cotherman, and her husband, Tim, all of Knox and Faye Neely and her husband, Jim, of Kane; six step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren.

     In addition to his parents and wife, Elva, Tom was preceded in death by a daughter, Vicky Hilborn; two granddaughters, Brianna Black and Brinna Hartzell and a son-in-law, Frank Black.

     Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2017 at the William N. Rupert Mortuary, Inc., 430 Mendenhall Avenue, Knox and from 10 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at the Fellowship Baptist Church, 3727 Oneida Valley Road, Emlenton.

     Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, in the church with Pastor Jacob Langdon officiating.

     Interment will follow at the Cedarview Memorial Park in Strattanville.

     Memorial contributions may be given in the name of Thomas W. Kiehl to the Clarion Cancer Center, 150 Doctors Lane, Clarion, PA  16214 or Clarion/Forest VNA, 271 Perkins Drive, Clarion, PA  16214

     Online condolences may be sent to Tom’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com

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