Verne "Billy" Kiel IV

A Celebration of Life Service for Verne “Billy” Kiel IV will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 25, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Albert Lea.  Pastor John Mitchem will officiate.  Visitation will begin at 12:30 on Monday and continue until the time of the service at the church.

Billy passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in Eagan, MN after a long battle with mental illness and addiction.  He was 32 years old.

Verne “Billy” Herschel Kiel IV was born on June 28, 1985 to Verne “Jay” Herschel Kiel III and Dawn Charlson in Honolulu, HI.  He grew up in Minnesota until the age of 12, when he moved to Florida for a period of time.  For the last three years, Billy has been living in Minnesota. Billy always thought of Florida as home, he loved the sand and sun of Florida but the snow and cold in Minnesota was something he never did enjoy.  Billy was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea.  After his schooling, he worked several different jobs in the area.

Billy was a very good artist, he loved drawing and painting. He also had the best hugs, he would wrap his arms around you with a hug that always made you feel loved by him. He loved fitness, you could find him working out constantly, and he especially loved working out with his grandpa Verne at the YMCA.  He liked hiking, biking, and walking around the lake. Billy always had a special place in his heart for animals. Billy had a sense of humor like nobody else and his smile could brighten a dreary day.  He would often play jokes on his family and his grandparents.  He was a kind, caring person who had a very big heart, always so willing to help others with their struggles but just couldn’t take his own for another day. Even with all his muscle and strength it was not enough to fight the horrible monster of addiction.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Barbara Erickson and Bill Charlson; and step grandfather; Gary Erickson.

Those left to cherish his memory include his parents; Jay (Janet) Kiel and Dawn Cobb; step father, Michael Cobb; grandparents, Verne (Shirley) Kiel; siblings, Cameryn Cobb, Ciara Cobb, and John Kiel; step siblings, Amie, Carrie, Melissa, Jusseppe, and Jarol; aunts and uncles, Larry (Pat) Charlson, Mike (Netta) Charlson, Deb Chance, Kim (Dan) Stiernagle, and Sara (Kyle) Jensen; along with many loving cousins, relatives, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Freeborn County Humane Society.