William Kiel, Jr.

William Henry Kiel, Jr., 89, of Kingsville, TX was born January 23, 1925 in Burton, TX to William Henry Kiel and Louise Fischer Kiel. Bill went home to be with the Lord on March 21, 2014. Survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean Schlicht Kiel, and children Kathy Smith Mark -deceased, Janet Shagam Shayle, Jim Kiel Susan and John Kiel Julie and grandchildren Austen Lindsay Smith, Jared Smith, Conner Smith, Naomi Shagam, Nathan Shagam, Ruby Kiel, Estee Kiel, and great-grandchildren Brady Smith and Grey Smith and nephew Kenneth Ziegenbein. He was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister Louise Gilbert Ziegenbein. Bill graduated third in his class at Brenham High School in 1942. Not having enough money to attend college right away, he worked for 3 years sexing chickens at the Dixie Poultry Farm and Hatchery in Brenham before attending Texas A&M University class of ''49. In three and a half years of college, Bill missed having a straight A average by 1/375. He received the Agricultural Honor award for outstanding senior in Agriculture 1948-TAMU and the Danforth Fellowship. He was then awarded numerous scholarships, including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Scholarship, to attend the University of Wisconsin where he received his Masters 1953 and did his work on his doctorate. It was there that he met his future wife, Jean. Bill was employed as a research assistant at the University of Wisconsin - Madison 1948-1953, Field Assistant, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Manitoba, Canada, 1953-54, Wildlife Biologist and Project Leader, Texas Game and Fish 1954-1958, Research Biologist and Mourning Dove Project Leader, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland, 1958-61, Wildlife Biologist, King Ranch, Inc, 1962-1989 and Graduate Faculty Texas A&M University 1967-1991. Bill was responsible for wildlife investigations on all Divisions of the Ranch. He supervised graduate student projects for Texas A&M for 24 years. He was Secretary/Treasurer of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society and was President of the Texas Chapter in 1967. He was the Southwest Representative to the Wildlife Society, representing Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and The Republic of Mexico. Bill authored numerous publications and books in the wildlife field. He loved the out of doors, his family and his graduate students. The funeral was held Sunday, March 23 at 2pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Burton. Memorials may be made in his honor to Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 W. King in Kingsville, TX 78363 or St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4450 FM 1948 in Burton, TX 77835. Serving as pallbearers are his sons Jim and John, grandsons Nathan Shagan, Austin, Jared, and Conner Smith, son-in-law Shayle Shagam, and nephew, Ken Ziegenbein Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.