Vivan Louis Rendel was born April 6, 1911 in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. He was the son of Lottie (Oliver) and Benjamin Rendel, Sr.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

On December 20, 1934, he married Cynthia C. Slayton in Dundee, Michigan. At the time, he was a farmer in Maybee, Michigan.

They had two children:

  1. Bill Rendel

  2. Ruth (Rendel) Willes

Vivan died on October 3, 2000 in Lowndes, Wayne County, Missouri at the age of 89.