Valentin Philipp Siehs, 51, of 709 Milwaukee St., Kiel, died unexpectedly Friday morning, Sept. 2, 2011, at Calumet Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born Aug. 12, 1960, in Chilton, son of LuAnn (Beil) Siehs and the late Valentin E. Siehs. Val attended Kiel schools and was a 1978 graduate of Kiel High School. He continued his education by receiving vocational diplomas in electricity and police science. On Feb. 23, 1985, he married the former Elizabeth J. Russell.

Val worked for various interior contractors in Wisconsin. He also owned and operated Reliant Electric and he was very grateful to the area communities who supported him in business. Val had also worked for many years with AA Laun Furniture Co., Kiel.

He was a faithful member of Kiel Alliance Church, a past member of D.A.N.K. (German-American National Congress). Val was a past member of Riverside and Great Northern Preservation Society where he served on the board of directors, was building and grounds director and also served as locomotive engineer and conductor. He was also a past member of the Dells Live Steamers and Scale Model Engineers.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; three daughters, Kari, a student at VanderCook College of Music, Rachael, a student at Lakeland College, Patricia at home; his mother, LuAnn Siehs, Kiel; three brothers and a sister, Karl (Laura) Siehs and their daughter, Amanda, Menominee Falls; Paul (Jan) Siehs, Kiel; Richard (Jennifer) Siehs, New Holstein; and Marie Siehs, Kiel; mother-in-law and father-in-law, James and Patricia Russell, Sheboygan; sisters-in-law, Ellen (Doug) Christel, Sheboygan; Amy (Tony) Boe and their children, Ty, Brit and Colby, Port Angeles, Wash. He is further survived by an uncle, Kurt (Sue) Siehs, Mukwonago; aunts, Irmgard Dreier, Howards Grove; and Della Beil, Belleville Wis. Val is survived by other relatives and many friends.

According to Val's wishes, private services were held with burial in the Rockville (Schleswig) Cemetery.