Stephen E. Kiesel, age 88, of Milford passed away on Monday, December 24, 2012 in Milford Hospital. He was born on August 12, 1924 in Throop, PA to the late Stephen and Susan Pendel Kiesel. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Scranton and served proudly in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII. Before retiring, he was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft for over 35 years. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he loved golf, sailing, poetry and gardening.Over the years, he cultivated his own variety of tomato. Stephen was a member of the Milford Yacht Club and Milford Yacht Club Frostbite Association. Mr. Kiesel is survived by his dedicated children Eloise (Francis) Gormley , Marcia Kiesel both of Milford, Susan (Jeffrey Wheeler) Kiesel of Sheffield, MA and Patricia (Doug) Diekman of Fruita, CO, sister Mary Sommers of Arlington, TX, grandchildren Joseph (Allison) Gormley, Jeremy Gormley and Eleanor Diekman, great grandchildren Colton, Mason and Weston Gormley, and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his loving wife Margaret Shields Kiesel, brother George Kiesel and sister Frances Gebhardt. All services are private and are being handled Smith & Sefcik Funeral Home, 135 Broad St., Milford. Donations may be made in his name to the American Diabetes Assoc., 2080 Silas Deane Highway, 2nd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or the American Red Cross, Milford Chapter, 1 Plymouth Place, Milford, CT 06460.