VEAZIE – Kenneth A. Topel, 75, husband of Mary (Langneff) Topel, died peacefully Jan. 16, 2010, surrounded by family at his home. He was born in 1934, in LaCrosse, Wis., son of Lawrence and Verna (Spears) Topel. Kenneth grew up in Wisconsin and was a U.S. Army veteran serving in Germany with the 11th Airborne Division from 1953 to 1956, where he met and married his wife, Mary. He proudly served as a drill instructor for many years with the 76th Training Division with the Army Reserves in Bangor, and served a total of 31 years in the Army, retiring at the rank of first sergeant in 1994. Ken and Mary came to Maine in 1958 while on their way to New York from Wisconsin, but loved Maine so much they decided to stay. Ken always looked forward to their many visits to Berlin to visit his mother-in-law. Ken owned and operated Capehart Mobile throughout the 1970s. He worked as a mechanic for Quirk Auto and Bangor Dodge for many years. Surviving in addition to his wife, Mary of Veazie, are two children, Kenneth Topel Jr. and his fiancee, Kelly McKeil, of Windham and Shirley Hincks and her husband, Walter, of Orrington; five grandchildren, Brandy and Rebecca Hincks, Maggie and Avery Topel, and Kylie Bangs; brothers and sisters, Harold Topel, Marilyn Hollis, Phillip Topel and his wife, Rita, Fred Topel and his wife, Patricia, Violet Rediske, Robert Topel and his wife, Lynn, and Alan Topel and his wife, Dawn; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his mother-in-law, Emma Focke; two sisters, Barbara West and Rita Kaiser; a sister-in-law, Darlene Topel; and two brothers-in-law, George Hollis and John Rediske. Family and friends may visit 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor, where a service honoring his life will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20. Burial with military honors will be held in the spring at Fairview Cemetery, Veazie. Condolences may be offered at www.kileyandfoley.com.
KENNETH A. TOPEL SR.
