Edward Verl Riffel
Edward Verl Riffel, 78, passed away May 28, 2024, in Newton. He was born in Chapman to Verl and Ann Marie (Schroeder) Riffel.
He didn?t know a stranger and made everyone feel welcome. He was hard-working and liked dabbling in many different things over the years. He managed Walton Co-op service station, building
construction, had a tree-trimming business using a crawler tractor, boot repair store, a lawnmower repair business, restaurant, contractor for the railroad, and no, he didn?t do all this at one time. He even sold vehicles
on occasion!
He liked building stuff (a handyman), making it bigger and better. He would take a building, house, shed, you name it, and improve its usefulness. We believe this was very satisfying to
him. When he was not working, he spent time on the lake and helping people in the community. He took it upon himself to repaint all the street signs at Marion County Lake (where he presided for some time).
One of his hobbies included Ed?s favorite pastime, fishing with his collection of fishing poles and lures. Other hobbies/projects included hunting, working on cars in his early years,
stained glass making, woodworking, model planes/boats and raising meat goats.
He saw a need for the 4-H youth to show goats, so he started the 4-H Goat Project and successfully built it into a big part of the livestock show during the county fair, which is still going
on today.
As Dad got older, he began to slow down, but still had the passion and desire to help others?he delivered for Meals On Wheels for a time and enjoyed talking to everyone he delivered
to. It was amazing to us his desire to help others. There was a time when a farmer had some health issues and dad went to his farm and helped harvest his wheat crop.
Ed was a beloved father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his children, Mike (Lisa) Riffel and Kurt (Shelly) Riffel; grandsons, Luke and Zach Riffel; his sister, Yvonne, and nephew,
Lenny (Tracie); sister Julie, nephews, Matt (Mary), Brad (Tabitha); and extended family.
Ed was predeceased by his parents and a niece, Jennifer.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 6, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Petersen?s Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas. The address is Petersen?s Family Funeral
Home at 215 N. Main Newton, KS, 67114.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7, at Petersen?s with a private family burial after.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Petersen?s Family Funeral Home at 215 N. Main Newton, KS, 67114. Memorials will be made to Marion County Meals on Wheels or Caring
Hands Humane Society.
