Harold Richard (Hal) Piehler

Harold Richard Piehler of Lawrence Kansas died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Feb. 8, 2014.  He was born September 28, 1927, on a farm near Sterling, Kansas. He was the son of Oscar and Bessie Piehler.

He attended Union 2 School near Sterling and Lyons Senior High School from which he graduated in 1945.

In 1950 he graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He graduated with a BA from Southwestern College in Winfield Kansas in 1957, summa cum laude, and a Master of Arts degree from Wichita University in 1962. From the University of Kansas he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1975.

Harold taught English and history at Winfield High School from 1957 to 1970 and at Lawrence High School until his retirement in 1990.

He married Betty Matzke of Lawrence June 7, 1981. He leaves behind four children, Rachel Edney of Manaus, Virginia, David Piehler of Plano, Texas, Michelle Piehler and Christopher Piehler of Lawrence, Kansas and four grandchildren Matthew, Megan, Michael, and Mitchell of Plano, Texas

Besides his dissertation in 1957, he wrote numerous articles for newspapers, including Kansas History, Reminisce and The Good Old Days. Harold also wrote countless children’s short stories, including one full length novel.

He was an active member of the Oread Society of Friends, The Mankind Project, The Friends of the Library, The Kansas Authors Club, and the Brandon Woods writing class.

He traveled some in the United states but spent most of his life in his beloved hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.