Joseph Kitchel

Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by Cass County Communication Network

Joseph M. Kitchel was the eldest son of Minnie and Victor Kitchel of Logansport, born March 22nd, 1938, into the large family tree of Daniel Christ Kitchel. Joe’s family was active in the Brethren Church. He graduated from Logansport High School in 1956, having played drums in the High School Band for five years. He graduated from Manchester College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Language Arts, minoring in Art. 

Joe married fellow art student Nancy Wilson in June 1961. They lived in Peru, Indiana, with Joe teaching English at Peru Junior High. After 3 years, Joe and Nancy struck off to New York, where he selected a position teaching English in Patchogue on Long Island, New York. He enjoyed working with the theater department, and after 2 years, became a graduate assistant with the Hofstra University Theater Department. Theater career achievements included working with Francis Ford Coppola on the film “The Rain People,” and freelance work with props and stage managing for New York State Theater, Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, and the Caramour Opera Festival in Katonan, New York. His marriage with Nancy ended in 1968.

Always an advocate for historic architecture and now living in Brooklyn, NY he bought his first house in 1974, a three-story Brownstone building. He started his own restoration carpentry business, Joseph Kitchel Etc., where he restored antiques and architecture, continuing creative work for his entire life.  

Joe married Pauline Henry in 1976 in New York, and his son Daniel Henry was born in 1981. 

Joe and Pauline moved back to Indiana, landing in Anoka, where Elizabeth Marie was born in 1985. They bought a house in Logansport at 1615 North Street, which Joe worked to renovate. Joe continued his business building custom cabinets and restoring antique homes, with notable work on the Thomas Marshall House in North Manchester, Indiana. He also worked as facility manager at Cross~Wind church, and enjoyed helping in children’s church. Joe and Pauline separated in 1991, and raised their children with Dad for 2 months every summer in Indiana, and Mom during the school years in Centralia, Washington. 

Joe began a long and cherished relationship with Carolyn Cooper in 1993. Joe was passionate about preserving Indiana’s architectural history, and was active with Indiana Landmarks Foundation, Delphi Preservation Society, as well as Kid’s Hope and Logansport Boy Scouts. He loved jazz music and attending concerts at Purdue. In addition to carpentry work, he worked part time at Arone Hardware, and as school crossing guard until his full retirement at age 80. He was preceded in death by Carolyn in March 2018

Joe is survived by his two capable and creative children, Dan in Centralia, Washington, with grandson Harvey Randall Kitchel.  Elizabeth and her husband Mike McKinney reside in Lafayette, Indiana. 

In 2020, he moved to Aster Place in Lafayette, where he left many friends. Joe passed away at age 87 (just 2 weeks shy of his 88th birthday) after a stroke on March 11th at Franciscan Hospital in Lafayette

Please join family and friends to celebrate and remember Joe Kitchel at Cross~Wind UMC, Saturday, September 19th, at 11:00 a.m.

Condolences can be shared at https://kroegerfuneralhome.com.