Joseph J. Kivel

Joe was predeceased by his parents, John “Jack” Kivel and Florence (Nolan) Kivel. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marguerite Kivel; his three children, John Kivel and his wife, Laurie, of Chicopee, Massachusetts; Keith Kivel and his wife, Denise, of Rye, New York (Yonkers Police Lieutenants); and Nicole Kivel of London, England and his brother, Thomas Kivel, a retired Yonkers Police Department Lieutenant, of Redding, Connecticut.

Joe graduated Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers and Iona College. Joe and Marguerite were married on September 18, 1971, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ardsley, New York. They made their home in Yonkers, where they raised their three children and spent nearly 55 years together.

Joe had a deep connection to his hometown and spent 35 years serving it as a member of the Yonkers Fire Department. He rose through the ranks of the department, retiring as Assistant Chief in August 2001. For Joe, the Fire Department was far more than a career. He cared deeply about the department, the people who served alongside him, and leaving things better for those who came after him.

That commitment extended to his time as president of the Yonkers Fire Officers Association, a role about which he felt particularly strongly. Joe was a determined advocate for his fellow officers and helped drive meaningful improvements to their benefits, including much-needed changes to the dental plan—an accomplishment whose impact continued well beyond his own tenure.

Joe also possessed a remarkable intelligence, particularly when it came to computers and technology. Long before most people were comfortable navigating the internet, Joe was fascinated by its possibilities. Combining that interest with his devotion to the Fire Department, he created the Yonkers Fire Department’s first website. That same curiosity made Joe the unofficial IT department for generations of family and friends. When a computer stopped working, something needed setting up, or a technological problem seemed impossibly complicated, Joe was the person to call.

Joe’s passions also took him well beyond Yonkers. An avid skier and cyclist, he loved being active and outdoors and pursued both throughout his life. He spent many happy days skiing in Vermont and traveling throughout New England, while cycling gave him another way to explore, including trips through Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These weren’t simply hobbies. They reflected something essential about Joe: his independence, his energy, his curiosity, and his desire to keep moving.

The constants in Joe’s life were the things he cared about deeply: his family, Yonkers, the Fire Department, and the passions he pursued wholeheartedly. He was intelligent, curious and fiercely dedicated to the people and institutions that mattered to him.

Family & Friends are invited to wake services Wednesday, September 2, 2026 from 3- 7PM at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home in Yonkers. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church (110 Shonnard Pl, Yonkers NY) at 9:30AM.

Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Westchester Medical Trauma & Burn Center. https://give.wmchealth.org/give/371042#!/donation/checkout