Roland Kibler passed away this month with his wife at his side after a valiant battle with cancer.
He was born in Toledo, OH, in 1949. Roland was born to Melvin and Mae Kibler and spent his youth on the farm in Sand Creek, MI. He graduated from GMI in 1972, and earned graduate degrees from both Michigan State University in 1975, with an MS in Electrical Engineering, and from University of Michigan in 1993, with his MBA.
After GMI, he worked for GM, including five years in Tokyo when his division became Delphi. He retired from Delphi in 2005 and worked for NEXT ENERGY from 2006-2016, where he evaluated alternative energy proposals that would reduce carbon emissions and was passionate about learning all he could to effectively evaluate the proposals. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in 2022, and he acted on what he learned, buying an electric car, installing the charger, putting solar panels on the roof of the house, making sure it was energy efficient and currently selling power back to DTE many days.
Roland is survived by his wife, Jeanette, married in 1990, with 35 wonderful years together; his children: Nathan (Jill) Kibler, Rebekah (Eric) Kibler-Marshall, and David (Nicole) Kibler; three grandchildren Rebekah’s daughter, Lizzie age 9; two step-grandchildren, Kyla age 18, and Ethan age 16; and David’s daughter, Olivia age 15, and son, Everett age 8. He is also survived by his sister, Janyce Kibler of Tallahassee, FL, and brother, Gerald Kibler of Richfield, OH.
Rol loved sailing, running, and brewing beer, passions shared with Nathan. Rol and Nathan sailed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin in our 25 ft sailboat. Rol qualified for Boston when he ran his second marathon when he was 52, and ran his 10th marathon on 10/10/2010 in Chicago, and many more races. He had amazing fine-motor skills and enjoyed working on models, including a huge sailing ship, a gift from David, which he built plank by plank during late night conference calls when we were living in Japan.
A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
Parking is available in the Forest Street parking structure, a short walk from the church, it is free on Sundays.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cass Community Social Services or First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
