Marcelaine Ruth Griffel, 92, formerly of Higginsville and Excelsior Springs, died Oct. 19, 2020, at the Golden Age Nursing Home in Braymer. She was born Aug. 5, 1928, in Alma to Edwin and Hilda (Miller) Kempfe. She was baptized on Aug. 19, 1928, by A.H. Griesse at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alma. She was confirmed on April 18, 1943, by Rev. A.H. Griesse. She graduated in 1947 from Alma High School and went to the KC College of Commerce. She worked for the Builders Association of Kansas City, doing secretarial work until she married Olen Eugene Griffel on June 19, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alma.

They lived in Independence, and she stayed home to start their family. After the children were in school, she went back to work, starting as a loan cashier at Associates Financial in Independence, then as office manager for a pediatrician in Kansas City.

On Jan. 1, 1978, they moved to Crystal Lakes in Excelsior Springs. She volunteered at Excelsior Springs Hospital and then worked as church secretary for Mount Calvary Lutheran Church for 10 years. She served on the Evangelism Committee, Church Council and Anna Circle. She also served as second vice president of the LWML of the Kansas City North Zone for six years. She retired on Oct. 1, 1987, and they started spending the winter months in Yuma, Arizona.

In June 1995, they moved to Higginsville. She became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and joined the Altar Guild and LWML. They moved to Braymer in 2016.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years; daughters, Cheryl Schwindt (Thomas) of Lee’s Summit and Cynthia Griffel of Kidder; sister, Frances Klaustermeyer (Donald) of Independence; son-in-law, Thomas Groff of Grain Valley; five grandchildren, Andrew Hurley (Stephanie), Michael Hurley (Amy), Tanya Beckham (Paul), Sean Groff (Jessica) and Jason Groff; eight great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Gayle Groff; twin brothers, Harlan and Harold Kempfe; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Friday, Oct. 23, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held one hour before the funeral.

Casket bearers will be Jason Groff, Sean Groff, Tommy Groff, Mike Hurley, Andy Hurley, Kevin Griffel.

She will be buried in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.

Memorials may be to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Handicap Fund.

Arrangements in care of Kaiser-Wiegers Funeral Home, Higginsville.