Agnes Kneifl Long

Agnes H. Strauss Kneifl Long, 102, of Ponca died June 5, 2013, at Regency Care Center in South Sioux City. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Newcastle, Neb., with the Rev. Dave Liewer officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle. Visitation with family will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, with a rosary at 7 p.m. followed by a celebration of her life, in the church parish hall. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Agnes was born on March 7, 1911, in Fonda, Iowa, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Strauss. She graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Fonda, and then attended two years of nursing at St. Anthony de Padua nursing School in Chicago, Ill. She married Nicholas N. Kneifl on Aug. 12, 1930 in Newcastle. The couple farmed and raised 12 children. Nick passed away on Nov. 26, 1976. Agnes remained on the farm until the accidental death of their son, Nick Jr., on Dec. 30, 1978, after which she left the farm. She married Don Long on June 13, 1986. They resided in Ponca until his death on Jan. 16, 2001. Agnes' survivors are her children and spouses, Mrs. Don Kneifl (Mary) of Ponca, Mrs. JoAnne McGinty of South Sioux City, Betty (Ron) Pettit of Sioux City, Carol Cobb of Oceanside, Calif., Linda Deabler of South Sioux City, Mary Jo (Ed) Jones of South Sioux City, Tony (Laura) of Ponca, Jeanne (Duane) Fuchser of Humble, Texas, Terry (Kathy) Kneifl of Martinsburg, Neb., and Bob (Kim) of Ponca; 37 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; five sisters; both husbands; two sons, Don and Nick Jr.; daughter, Shirley Kneifl Hoffert; two sons-in-law, DW Hoffert and Gerald McGinty; four grandsons; and two great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters.