Joseph P. "Joe" Kittel

1930 - 2024

Joseph P. "Joe" Kittel

Randolph, VT - Joseph P. "Joe" Kittel, 94 of Randolph, died peacefully Friday morning, December 6, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family.

Joe was born to Nina (Swan) and Paul Kittel on the family dairy farm in Bennington, VT during milking time and his weight was determined on the butter scale. He joined his grandfather and father attending to the duties expected of a farm boy. During this time he was educated at Brooklyn Elementary School and was a member of the Bennington High School class of 1947. Following high school Joe worked on the Bennington road crew until enlisting in the Air Force. He served stateside prior to and during the Korean conflict as a teletype mechanic. Upon completion of his service he visited the Vermont Veterans Hospital in White River Junction where his life was changed in a wonderful way when they suggested that he take advantage of the GI bill and attend college. Joe thought he would give Electrical Engineering a try at UVM and found that to be a good fit both educationally and socially, meeting his future wife, Beth there. They were married in 1956.

Joe was offered a job at General Electric upon his graduation. His training and work life for GE took him and Beth to various locations in Vermont, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. His work also allowed him to earn a master's degree from RPI.

After 10 years at GE, both he and Beth were homesick for Vermont when he learned from a friend of an opportunity to teach in the Electrical and Electronics department of Vermont Technical College. They relocated a final time in 1965 to Randolph where he settled into the newly formed department as a professor. He spent the next 23 years there, helping students understand the subject matter through classroom lectures and lab work and further helped explain the subject intricacies by writing a book that explained the processes using analogies.

In his spare time, Joe enjoyed working on family genealogy and volunteering his time on Bethany church committees, driving people to hospital appointments and working with Interfaith Caregivers. Joe also enjoyed bicycle trips, camping ,canoeing adventures and traveling with family and friends..

Joe was predeceased by his parents, wife, and his siblings, Hazel Apfelbeck, Phyllis Tate and Pauline Dunn. Joe leaves behind his children Marie Kittel, Melanie (Ken) Haberl, and Paul Kittel. His grandchildren, Dave Haberl and Denise (Jonathon) Eagan and his great grandchildren, Otto and Eli Eagan as well as nieces and nephews.

Joe's family wishes to thank the Bayada Hospice organization for his wonderful care in recent years as well as his primary caregivers, Lisa, Betty, Shelly, Stacey and Dr. Fowler. He also appreciated the humor shared with him on a daily basis from Lars. Anyone wishing to donate in his memory is asked to consider giving to Meals on Wheels through the Greater Randolph Senior Citizen Center or the Bayada Hospice organization.

A celebration of his life at Bethany Church in Randolph in May will be announced in the Spring. Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home.