Wayne L Krehbiel, 94, of Mount Vernon, IL, passed away at 9:42 am, May 15, 202,5 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon.
He was born July 3, 1930, in Mound Ridge, Kansas, to the late Herman Gustav and Anna (Albright) Krehbiel. Wayne married Betty Westerman on November 4, 1950, and they have three children together. On April 19, 1980, Wayne married the late Patti Moore, and she preceded him in death. Wayne married Janice Shields on December 12, 2016, and she survives.
In addition to his loving wife, Wayne is survived by his son, Duane Krehbiel and wife, Hope; daughters, Diane Geiss and husband Gary, Dawn Ritterband and fiance, James Reyes; step-sons, Randy Shields and fiance, Alicia Augustine; step-daughter; Julie Schoenecker and husband, Jeremy; granddaughter, Melissa Geiss; grandsons, Max and Ben Ritterband; step-grandsons, Hunter Solon and Ryan Shields; step-granddaughter, Cassy Coleman, Carly Misuraca and husband, Tyler, Brianna Shields; step-great-grandsons, Wyatt and Wesley Coleman, Marty and Camden.
In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Patti Moore; step-children, Jill Moore and David Shields; siblings, Larry Krehbiel, Evelyn Vogts, Loraine Unruh, and Elaine Stuckey.
Wayne proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from November 1951 – November 1953. In 1948, he attended Kansas State University and graduated in 1950. Wayne returned to University in 1954 and graduated in 1956 with a Business Administration degree with a major in accounting, and later became a Certified Public Accountant. Wayne was actively involved in his community and various organizations, which include, Downtown Development Board, Past President of the Mt. Vernon Rotary, board member of Community Transportation Development, Jefferson County Shriner’s Club & Green Hills Country Club. He served on the board of the Illinois CPA Society, and he was the organization’s vice president.
In April 20, 2001, he was named Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year, and on May 21, 2001, was named BPW’s Employer of the Year.
Krehbiel & Associates LLC:
Mt. Vernon businessman Clarence E. Brehm was looking for someone as an accountant for his various companies who was graduating from K-State in accounting, was a veteran, and married. Wayne Krehbiel was that person and in 1956 moved to Mt. Vernon, where is legacy began.
In 1966, Wayne started his own accounting business while continuing to work part-time for Brehm. His first office was in the First National Bank Building, and Naomi Ratcliff was his only employee. On January 31, 1975, Wayne purchased and relocated to the former Elks Building at 125 N Eleventh Street. Unused space for accounting was rented to other small businessmen and women. Former tenants included, Paul Giamanco, Creative Concepts, Michael French, Harlan C. Foster, Dr. Jack Setzkorn, Wayne Hicks, Pillsbury, Channel 13 TV and Orion Petro Corporation. The building is now solely occupied for accounting purposes only.
The original accounting business name was Wayne L. Krehbiel & Co. With the addition of associates and partners, the firm operated under the name Krehbiel, Steffens, Bowen & Co. prior to becoming Krehbiel & Associates, LLC in July 1985.
Partners included, Jake Steffens, Les Bowen, Stan Fowler, Merle Hohlmann, James Randall, Mark Connaway, Wm Brent Palmer, Jams Leuty, Gary Malawy, Richelle Heggemeir, Robert Huffman, Brent Maschhoff, Greg Charlton, Josh Esser, Cheryl Presswood and Emily Tynes.
As the client base grew, additional offices were opened in Fairfield, Carlyle, Eldorado, Marion, and Nashville. Offices are currently operated in Mt. Vernon, Carlyle, and Nashville.
Wayne completely retired from accounting practice via a letter to his clients on May 15, 2014. He continued to maintain an office in the lower level at 125 N Eleventh Street, where he could be found each morning, seven days a week.
Orion Petro Corporation:
Wilson G. Harris, Jr., founder and president of Orion Energy Corp., was a client and friend of Wayne’s. The major portion of this independent oil & gas producing company’s wells were located in northeast Ohio, and a few wells in Southern Illinois. Orion Petro Corporation was incorporated on February 10, 1978, as the operating company for the wells. The corporate office for both companies was located in Mt. Vernon, IL. By 1984, Mr. Harris’ desire to cut back on his workload and need to convert Orion’s accounting to a computer system, Wayne agreed to oversee the conversion. March 1, 1985, Orion Petro Corporation was re-organized, expanded to leasing and exploration, and moved the corporate office to the lower level of the Krehbiel & Associates building, and Wayne continued his tax work as well. At the time, Orion had 10 employees in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
1985 Orion Petro Corporation Officers and Owners:
Wayne L. Krehbiel – president/treasurer
Oliver E. Harris – Vice-President/Operations Manager
Wilson G. Harris, Jr. – Secretary
James C. Dixon – Board Member
Frank Hall – Board Member
After the 2001 death of R. Frank Hall, the 2005 death of James C. Dixon, the 2009 death of Wilson G. Harris, Jr., and the retirement of Oliver E. Harris, January 1, 2010, Orion Petro Corporation was owned and operated by Wayne L. Krehbiel and James R. Smail of Wooster, OH.
With the long-term downturn of oil and natural gas prices to producers, on October 1, 2016, Orion Petro Corporation sold its Ohio operations and wells to Pin Oak Energy Partners LLC of Akron, OH. The last three White County, Illinois wells were assigned to others or plugged. With three remaining employees, Orion ceased doing business as of 2/28/2017. The Ohio corporation was dissolved on 9/28/2017, and the State of Illinois ceased on 9/14/2018.
A Visitation will be held Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm with Brother Alan Smith officiating at Hughey Funeral Home. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made in Wayne’s honor to SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation in memory of Wayne Krehbiel.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information
