For those who knew him, Herb Kieforndorf was a “great man.” A member of VFW Post 3358 in Slinger, Wisconsin, Kieforndorf served his community well.
According to long-time friend and fellow VFW member Tom Haase, when Kieforndorf died in May 2020 from brain cancer, the community was hit hard by the loss.
VFW Post 3358 members present Slinger High School senior Kacey Ott with the VFW Post 3358 Herb Kieforndorf Scholarship. Presenters were, from left, Tom Haase, Richard Gellendin and Post Commander Chris Ellenbecker.“Herb had more integrity than any person I think I have ever met in my life,” said Haase, Post 3358 adjutant. “He personified the essence of what a veteran should be as well as a good citizen.
Not long after Kieforndorf’s death, the Post agreed to honor him with a scholarship to be awarded to a student at Slinger High School.
On May 25, Kacey Ott received the first-ever VFW Post 3358 Herb Kieforndorf Scholarship in the amount of $500. Ott, who wants to be a doctor, plans to attend college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.
The co-valedictorian of her graduating class said she chose Taylor because it has a stellar basketball program.
Haase said the scholarship is funded for the first two years.
“Herb was a great, great mentor,” Haase said. “Kids at the school interviewed him about his service. He was very popular with the students.”
Haase, who first met Kieforndorf in 1987 while serving with the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing, said the pair deployed multiple times together including during Operation Desert Storm. Incidentally, Haase also served in Vietnam in 1967-1968 and more recently in Iraq.
“Everyone jumped on this scholarship right away,” Haase said. “We as a VFW wanted to do this to make sure the community doesn’t forget him. It was very fulfilling to me that one of my buddies was honored.”