Willem Kievith passed away on June 5, 2026, from an injury related to a fall. He was 87.

Bill was born July 21, 1938, in Ede, The Netherlands, to Cornelis and Francisca Kievith. He immigrated to the United States at age eleven in 1949. Despite the fact that English was his second language, Bill became a high school debate champion.

He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history from the University of San Francisco. He married Esther “Camille” Powell on May 24, 1963, in San Francisco.

Bill served in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring in 1981 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served two tours in the Vietnam War. His last assignment was as an instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth Kansas.

Upon retirement from the army, the family moved from Kansas to Oregon to be closer to Camille’s family. He worked for local radio and TV stations as an account executive and formed his own advertising agency in 1990. He was active in the OASIS Education Center serving the Advisory Council and teaching classes in history and health. He also served on the YMCA Board of Directors for several years. He developed the first Eugene.com website to promote business in Eugene in partnership with another prominent Eugene businessman.

In 2008, he became the Director of Membership Sales and Advertising at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bill will be remembered for his love of history and books, his brilliant mind, his vegetarian diet (including his love of waffles with whipped cream and strawberries) and his knack to always get exactly what he wanted. Bill was a man of faith. Towards his later years, nothing meant more to him than spending time with the family around a meal.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Esther “Camille” Kievith; four daughters, Rebecca Stepanek of Durango, CO (Bryan); Carrie Chouinard (Lauren) and Lori Kievith (Peter) of Eugene, OR, Julie Kievith (Michael) of Port Orchard, WA; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A private celebration of life will be conducted by the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eugene Mission. A special thank you to all of the caring and loving staff at Bayberry Commons Senior Living where he spent the last five years of his life.