Harold "Hal" Arthur Kissel

Harold “Hal” Arthur Kissel, 96, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2026, leaving behind a loving extended family. His was a life well-lived—marked by adventure, integrity, faith and service to others. He was truly the rock of his family and will be greatly missed.

Hal was born on July 23, 1929, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Walter and Lois Kissel, the third of four children. His siblings included Kenneth, Wilma, and Donald. He excelled at both athletics and academics, and served as student body president at Manual High School in Indianapolis, graduating in 1947.

He attended General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan, before joining the United States Air Force in 1951. Hal served his country proudly for 20 years, becoming an accomplished pilot, a navigator, and an operations officer in the Minute Man Missile program at F.E. Warren AFB, retiring as a major. He served an extended deployment during the Vietnam War and earned several honors during his military career, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

As a young Air Force cadet, Hal met the love of his life, Marion Joan Peery. They were married on April 10, 1954, in Greenwood, Mississippi. The couple had three children: Steve, Kathy and Linda. His assignments moved the family to Louisiana, Texas, California, the Philippines, New Jersey, and eventually to Cheyenne where they settled in 1964.

After completing his degree in engineering at the University of Wyoming and retiring from the Air Force, Hal taught math to junior high and high school students for 17 years. He also became the owner/operator of Mountain Meadow Cabins in the Snowy Range Mountains near Centennial, Wyoming, during the summers. One of his favorite activities was taking visitors on horseback rides among the evergreens and mountain streams.

Hal and Marion were active in their church and in civic organizations in the Cheyenne community. They also enjoyed traveling to their timeshare resorts in Hawaii and going on several cruises around the world. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in April 2024, and are now joyfully reunited in the presence of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A memorial service honoring Hal’s life will be held at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes on Friday, May 8, at 2 pm.

Hal was preceded in death by his wife, Marion, in February 2025, and his daughter, Kathy (John) Moore, of Colorado Springs, in March 2026. He is survived by his son, Steve Kissel, of Cheyenne, and daughter, Linda (Ray) Beattie, of San Diego; Grandchildren: Madison Kissel, Dylan Kissel, Heather (Steve) Sandifer, Chris (Sara) Hall, Michelle (Nick) Bulkowski, Bradley (Natalie) Beattie; Great-grandchildren: Caden Hall, Cash Hall, Emma Sandifer, Madelyn Sandifer, Liam Bulkowski, Keir Bulkowski, and Naomi Beattie.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Hal’s honor is encouraged to consider one of his favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, or the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation.